Tangent

Galvanometer
Thota Aditya Vivek &
Maheshwaran

Contents
Introduction

Aim of the Project

Apparatus and Materials

required
Theory

Procedure

Observations and Graph

Result

Applications

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Bibliography

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2

Introducti
on:The tangent galvanometer was
frst
described in an 1837 paper by Claude-ServaisMathias Pouillet, who later employed this
sensitive form of galvanometer to verify Ohms
law. To use the galvanometer, it is frst set up on
a level surface and the coil aligned with the
magnetic north-south direction. This means that
the compass needle at the middle of the coil is
parallel with the plane of the coil when it carries
no current. The current to be measured is now
sent through the coil, and produces a magnetic
feld, perpendicular to the plane of the
coil and is directly proportional to the current.
The magnitude of the magnetic
feld produced by the coil is B ; the magnitude
of the horizontal component the Earths
magnetic feld is B. the compass needle aligns
itself along the vector sum of B and B after
rotating through an angle from its original
orientation. The vector diagram shows that tan
= B/B. since the magnetic feld of the Earth is
constant, and B depends directly on the current,
the current is thus proportional to the tangent of
the angle through which the needle has turned.
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Aim of the Project:The aim of the project is to find the

reduction factor of the given tangent
galvanometer (K) and the horizontal
component of
the Earths magnetic field (Bh).

Tangent galvanometer made by J. H.

Bunnell Co. around 1890

Top view of a tangent galvanometer made about 1950. The

indicator needle of the compass is perpendicular to the
shorter, black magnetic needle.

Apparatus and Materials

required:-

Tangent Galvanometer

Plug Key

Battery Eliminator
Ordinary view

a) Rotor view
Commutator

b)

Rheost
at

Theor
y:-

Tangent galvanometer is an early

measuring instrument for small electric currents.
It consists of a coil of insulated copper wire wound
on a circular non-magnetic frame. Its working is
based on the principle of the tangent law of
magnetism. When a current is passed through the
circular coil, a magnetic feld (B) is produced at
the center of the coil in a direction perpendicular
to the plane of the coil. The TG is arranged in such
a way that the horizontal component of Earths
magnetic feld (Bh) is in the
direction of the plane of the coil. The magnetic
needle is then under the action of two mutually
perpendicular felds. If is the deflection of the
needle, then according to tangent law,
B=Bhtan..(1)
Let I is the cur rent passing through the
coil of radius with n tu
rns, then the feld
generated by the current
r coil is,
ula carrying circ
B= on I .....(2)
2
Equating (1) and (2), we get,
Bhtan= on I ...(3)
2
2 h= I ...(4)
B
tan
5
on

The left hand side of equation (4) is a

constant and is called the reduction factor
(K) of the given tangent galvanometer.
K= I .(5)
tan
Now from equation (3) & (5), the horizontal
intensity of Earths magnetic
field
is,
Bh
Bh= on K (6)
2

Procedure:Connections are made as shown in

the figure, where K is the key, E the battery, A
the ammeter, R the rheostat, C the commutator,
and T.G the tangent galvanometer.
The commutator can reverse the
current through the T.G coil without changing the
current in the rest of the circuit. Taking the
average of the resulting two readings for
deflection averages out, any small error in
positioning the TG coil relative to the earths
magnetic field Bh.

The plane of the coil is made

vertical by adjusting the levelling
screws.
The compass box alone is rotated
so that the 90-90 line in the
compass box is in the plane of the
coil.
The T.G as a whole is rotated till
the Aluminium pointer reads
0-0.
Note down the number of turns in
the coil.
A suitable current is allowed to
pass through the coil.
Note down the currrent as well as
the deflection in T.G.
Reverse the current and note the
deflection again.
Repeat the procedure for different
values of current.
Plot the graph.
Measure the radius of the coil

from its perimeter by using a

thread and rotating it around the
round circle.
Determine the reduction factor
and horizontal intensity of
earth's magnetic field.

Observations and Graph:Radius of the coil, a

= 7.72cm
Number of turns in the coil
= 2
Circumference of the coil, 2a = 48.5cm

1.To determine the horizontal

component of
Earths magnetic field (Bh):
The Horizontal comp
one nt of Earths magnetic feld
(Bh)
gt
can be calculated usin
he
on
formula,
2 Bh =
K

2. To determine the reduction

factor of T.G. : Reduction factor K of the
tangent galvanometer can be determined. From
the graph drawn as,
K=A
B
BC

Result: The reduction factor of the given

tangent galvanometer, K = _2.03_ A

Horizontal component of Earths

magnetic
field, Bh = _3.28x104_ T

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Applications: T.G. can be used to measure the

magnitude of the horizontal
component of the geomagnetic field.

The principle can be used to compare

the galvanometer constants.

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Bibliography:o Tangent Galvanometer (Procedure) : Electricity

& Magnetism Virtual Lab : Physical
Sciences : Amrita Vishwa
Vidyapeetham Virtual Lab
amrita.vlab.co.in/?
sub=1&brch=192&sim=1049&c
nt=2

o Tangent Galvanometer (Theory) : Electricity

& Magnetism Virtual Lab : Physical
Sciences : Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Virtual
Lab
amrita.vlab.co.in/?
sub=1&brch=192&sim=1049&c
nt=1

o Tangent
Galvanometer

http://physics.kenyon.edu/EarlyApparatus/Electri
cal_Measurements/Tangent_Galvan
ometer/Tangent_Galvanometer.html

o Galvanometer - Wikipedia, the

free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanome
ter

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