PHYSICS

INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT

PHYSICS PROJECT ON:-

TAN
GEN
T
GAL
VAN:
NAME
CLASS
:XII
OM
ROLL NO
:
SCHOOL
ETE :
R

2016-17

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that ___________ of
class XII-A has completed the physics
project entitled: Study on Earths
Magnetic Field Using a Tangent
Galvanometer, himself and under
the guidance of Mr/s.___________.
All the work related to the thesis had
been done by the candidate himself.
The approach was sincere and
scientific.

Mr/s. __________
(Subject teacher)

Examiner

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am grateful to the Almighty to give
me strength to successfully complete
my project.
This project wouldnt have been
feasible without the proper and
rigorous guidance of my Physics
teacher Mr/s.__________, who guided
me throughout this project in every
possible way.
I am deeply indebted to my school for
providing the best of facilities and
environment to bring out our
innovation and spirit of inquiry
through this venture. This report is
being submitted as a part of practical
examination conducted as per the
guidelines issued by CBSE.

INDEX

SL.N
O
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

TOPIC
Introduction
Aim
Apparatus
Theory
Procedure
Observations
Calculations
Results
Precautions
Sources of Error
Bibliography

PAGE NO.

INTRODUCTION
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.

AIM
To study the earths magnetic
field using a Tangent
Galvanometer.

APPARATUS

 Tangent galvanometer (TG),

Rheostat (R),
Battery (E),
Ammeter (A),
Key (k)
Reversing key
Connecting wires
Meter scale

PRINCIPLE

The working of the tangent Galvanometer

is based on the tangent law.
When a bar magnet is suspended in two
Magnetic fields B and Bh, it comes to rest
making an angle with the direction of
Bh.

DIAGRAM

THEORY
Tangent galvanometer is an early
measuring instrument for small electric
currents. It consists of a coil of insulated
copper wire wound on a circular nonmagnetic frame. Its working is based on
the principle of the tangent law of
magnetism.
STATEMENT: When a magnet is
suspended freely in two mutually
perpendicular uniform magnetic fields F
and B , the magnet comes to rest
making an angle with the direction H
such that
H

F=

BH

tan

Let a current I be passed through the coil

of radius R, having turns N. Then
magnetic field produced at the centre of
the coil is
F=

2 IN
R

Let B is the horizontal component of

earths magnetic field and the magnetic
needle comes to rest at an angle with
the direction of BH then Eq. (1) and (2)
H

BH

tan

BH

tan

BH

2 IN
R

107

2 IN
R

107

2 IN
R tan

By substituting the value of current I,

from Eq. (3)
tan
I
BH

o 2 N
4 RH

=
=

K=

o Nk
2R
I
tan

radius of coil of galvanometer R,

deflection and N, the value of H can be
calculated.

PROCEDURE
For performing in real life
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.

 The magnetic field can be

calculated as follows:
1. Make the circuit connections in
accordance with the circuit diagram.
2. Using a spirit level, level the base
and compass needle in compass box
of tangent galvanometer by
adjusting the leveling screw.
3. Now rotate the coil of the
galvanometer about its vertical axis,
till the magnetic needle, its image in
the plane of the mirror fixed at the
base of the compass box and the coil
i.e., all these three lie in the same
vertical plane. In this setting, the
ends of aluminum pointer should
read zero-zero. If this is not so, rotate
the box without disturbing the
position of the coil till at least one of
the ends of the pointer stands at the
zero mark.

4. Note the number of turns in the coil.

5. A suitable amount of current is
passed through the coil.
6. Note down the current as well as the
deflection in the TG.
7. Reverse the current and note the
deflection again.
8. Repeat for different values of
current.
9. Measure the radius of coil from
perimeter.
10. By changing the value of current,
take four or more set of reading and
plot the graph between I and tan.
The graph will be a straight line.
11. Determine the reduction factor and
the horizontal intensity of Earths
magnetic field.

OBSERVATIONS
Number of turns in the coil = 300
Outer radius of the coil

=16 cm

Inner radius of the coil

=14 cm

Radius of the coil

= 15 cm

Table for Variation of with I.

S.
N
o.

Ammeter
Reading
(A)

Value of
deflection,
For
direct
current

Mea
n

Tan

0.17
63
0.46
63
0.70
02
1.00
0

1.

Observ Corre
ed
cted
0.5
0.5

For
revers
e
curren
t
3 4

10

10

10 10

10

2.

25

25

25

25

25

3.

1.5

1.5

35

35

35

35

35

4.

45

45

45

45

45

BH=

. nK
2. a

B h 107

3.5630
2.690
2.637
2.510

OBSERVATIONS
Number of turns in the coil = ____
Outer radius of the coil

= ___ cm

Inner radius of the coil

= ___ cm

Radius of the coil

= ___ cm

Table for Variation of with I.

S.
N
o.

Ammeter
Reading
(A)

Value of
deflection,
For
direct
current

Observ Corre
ed
cted
1.
2.
3.
4.

For
revers
e
curren
t
3 4

Mea
n

Tan

BH=

. nK
2. a

B h 107

CALCULATIONS
Horizontal intensity of Earths magnetic
field,
Bh

is,

B h=

.n. K
2. a

Reduction factor K can be determined from

the graph as,

K=

AB
BC

RESULT
Reduction factor of the given Tangent
Galvanometer,
K=2.448 A
Horizontal component of Earths magnetic
field,
Bh

= 2.8

107

RESULT
Reduction factor of the given Tangent
Galvanometer,
K= ______ A
Horizontal component of Earths magnetic
field,
Bh

= _____

10

PRECAUTIONS
1. The battery should be freshly charged.
2. The magnetic needle should swing freely
in the horizontal plane.
3. The plane of coil must be set in magnetic
meridian.
4. All the readings must be adjusted between
30o and 600.
5. There should be no parallax in noting
down the reading of ammeter and defletion.

SOURCES OF ERROR
1. There may be a magnetic material around
the apparatus.
2. The plane of the coil will not be exactly in
the magnetic meridian.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
NCERT Physics Text Book for Class
XII
Comprehensive Physics Practical
Book
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanome
ter
www.icbse.com
www.cbse.nic.in