Tangent Galvanometer: Physics Investigatory Project

PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT
TANGENT
GALVANOMETER
SUBMITTED BY :- TEJ KANJARIYA
CBSE ROLL NO. :-

CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICITY
This is to certify that, TEJ KANJARIYA , of grade

XII, L.P. SAVANI INTERNATIONNAL SCHOOL has
successfully completed the research project
on the topic ‘‘STUDY OF THE EARTH’S MAGNETIC
FIELD USING A TANGENT GALVANOMETER’’ under
the guidance of Mr.Kaarthik (Physics Teacher).
The references taken in making this project
have been declared at the end of this Report.
TABLE OF CONTENT
SI.No Content Page no.

1. ACKNOWLEDMENT 04
2. OBJECTIVES 05
3. INTRODUCTION 06-08
4. ABOUT THE TOPIC 09-11
5. EXPERIMENT 12-13
6. OBSERVATION TABLE 14-15
7. BIBLIOGRAPHY 16
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep

sense of gratitude to all those people without whom this
project could have never been completed. First and
foremost, I’d like to thank my father for his inexhaustible
source of inspiration.
I would like to thank my Principal Mr. James and school for
providing me with the facilities required to complete this
project.
I am highly indebted to my Physics teacher Mr. Kaartik, for
his invaluable guidance which has sustained my efforts in
all the stages of this project work.
My thanks and appreciation goes out to my fellow
classmates and to the people who have willingly helped me
out with this project to the best of their abilities.
OBJECTIVES
 To determine the reduction factor of the given

tangent galvanometer (K).
 To find out the horizontal component of earth’s

magnetic field (Bh).
INTRODUCTION
Earth's magnetic field, also known as the geomagnetic field, is the
magnetic field that extends from the Earth's interior to where it meets
the solar wind, a stream of charged particles emanating from the Sun.
Its magnitude at the Earth's surface ranges from 25 to 65 microtesla
(0.25 to 0.65 gauss).Roughly speaking it is the field of a magnetic dipole
currently tilted at an angle of about 10 degrees with respect to Earth's
rotational axis, as if there were a bar magnet placed at that angle at the
center of the Earth. Unlike a bar magnet, however, Earth's magnetic
field changes over time because it is generated by a geodynamic (in
Earth's case, the motion of molten iron alloys in its outer core).
Most geomagneticians concern themselves with various
dynamo theories, whereby a source of energy in the core
of the Earth causes a self-sustaining magnetic field. The
Earth’s steady magnetic field is produced by many
sources, both above and below the planet’s surface. From
the core outward, these include the geomagnetic
dynamo, crustal magnetization, the ionospheric dynamo,
the ring current, the magnetopause current, the tail
current, field-aligned currents, and auroral, or
convective, electrojets. The geomagnetic dynamo is the
most important source because, without the field it
creates, the other sources would not exist. Not far above the Earth’s surface the effect of
other sources becomes as strong as or stronger than that of the geomagnetic dynamo.
The Earth’s magnetic field is subject to variation on all timescales. Each of the major
sources of the so-called steady field undergoes changes that produce transient
variations, or disturbances. The main field has two major disturbances: quasiperiodic
reversals and secular variation. An entirely different type of magnetic variation is caused
by magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves. These waves are sinusoidal variations in the
electric and magnetic fields that are coupled to changes in particle density. They are the
means by which information about changes in electric currents is transmitted, both
within the Earth’s core and in its surrounding environment of charged particles.
Earth's magnetic field serves to deflect most of the solar wind, whose charged particles
would otherwise strip away the ozone layer that protects the Earth from harmful
ultraviolet radiation. One stripping mechanism is for gas to be caught in bubbles of
magnetic field, which are ripped off by solar winds.
The intensity of the field is often measured in gauss (G), but is generally reported in
nanoteslas (nT), with 1 G = 100,000 nT. A nanotesla is also referred to as a gamma (γ).The
tesla is the SI unit of the Magnetic field, B. The field ranges between approximately 25,000
and 65,000 nT (0.25–0.65 G).
ABOUT THE TOPIC
Tangent Galvanometer:
Electric current is often measured using an instrument
called a tangent galvanometer. Able to measure the
presence as well as the direction and power of currents,
the instrument was first used in the early 1800s. It typically
has a vertical copper wire coil, wrapped around a circular
frame, and a compass in the middle. The compass needle
generally responds to the magnetic field of the electrical
current, which is compared to the Earth’s magnetic field in
the experiment. This scientific instrument has been built in many forms and more modern
ones often use beams of light to determine measurements, while some versions are used
to measure the magnetic field of the Earth
The instrument works based on the tangent law of magnetism. This principle defines the
tangent of the angle, traveled through by the compass needle, as being proportionate to a
ratio of how strong two magnetic fields are. These fields are usually perpendicular to one
another. Currents measured are typically proportional to the tangent of the same angle
the needle goes through.
Circuit Diagram:
When a bar magnet is suspended in two magnetic
fields B and Bh, it comes to rest making an angle θ
with the direction of Bh.
From Figure, B = Bh tanθ. This is known as tangent law
of magnetism.
If θ is the deflection of the needle, then according to

tangent law,
B = Bh tanθ (1)
Let I be the current passing through the coil of radius a with n turns, then the magnetic
field generated by the current carrying coil is,
B = μonI/2a (2) (a is the radius of the coil)
Equating (1) and (2), we get,
Bh tanθ = μonI/2a (3)
2aBh/μon = I/tanθ (4)
The left hand side of equation (4) is a constant and is called the reduction factor K of the
given Tangent Galvanometer.
K = I/tanθ (5)
Now from the equation (3) & (5), the horizontal intensity of Earth’s magnetic field Bh is,
Bh = μonK/2a (6)
Applications :-
Tangent Galvanometer 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.
EXPERIMENT
Aim:
 To determine the reduction factor of the given tangent galvanometer (K).
 To find out the horizontal component of earth’s magnetic field (Bh).
Apparatus:
 Tangent galvanometer (TG), commutator (C), rheostat (R), battery (E),
ammeter (A), key (k), connecting wires, meter scale etc.
Connections are made as shown in the figure given below, 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 earth’s magnetic field Bh .
Principle & Formulae:

 The reduction factor of T.G is K=I/tanθ, where I is the current flowing
through the T.G which produces the deflection θ.
 The horizontal intensity of Earth’s magnetic field at a place. Bh = μ0nK/2r,
where n is the number of turns of the coil, μ0 = 4π×10-7 NA-2 is the
 permeability of free space, K is the reduction factor of the T.G and r is the
radius of the coil of the T.G.
Procedure:
1. The circuit is made as shown in the diagram. The plane of the coil is made
vertical by adjusting the leveling screws. The plane of the coil is made by
adjusting the leveling screws. The plane of the coil is made parallel to (90-90) in
the compass box. The whole T.G is rotated to read (0-0) at the ends of the
aluminum pointer. Now the plane of the coil is in the magnetic meridian.
2. The Commutator keys are put. The rheostat should be adjusted for deflection
in T.G between 10 and 60. For a current I, the deflections of the pointer θ1 & θ2 are
noted. The Commutator is reversed. The deflections of the pointer θ3 & θ4 are
noted. The average of the four readings is the deflection θ. From the theory of
the T.G, I=K tanθ.
3. By varying the current the experiment is repeated. Using a string the
circumference of the coil is measured. Hence its radius r is found. Let n be the
number of turns of the coil. The horizontal intensity at the place is given by,
Bh = μonK/2r
OBSERVATION TABLES
Table 1: For variation of θ with I.
Mean K = 0.19682
 The reduction factor of TH = 0.19682
 Number of turns of the coil = 50
 Circumference of the coil (S) = 2π= 50.49 cm
TABLE 2: For radius of tangent galvanometer
Mean radius of coil R= 8.04x10-2
Horizontal Intensity at the place Bh = μonK/2r

= 2πnK×10-7/r = 7.6867×10-8 T
For different values of current I, deflections are noted and values are
calculated. Knowing K, n and r the value of horizontal intensity Bh can be
calculated
Slope of the straight line = BC
AC
m = tan θ (1) s
I
Now, substitute (1) in formula = μo 2πN/4π RH

Then, H = 7.6867×10-5 T
Result:
1. The reduction factor of T.G, K = 0.19682 A
2. Horizontal Intensity at the place, Bh = 7.6867×10-5 T
Conclusion:
Experiment in tangent galvanometer gives the reduction factor of
galvanometer and horizontal intensity of Earth’s magnetic field.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 Illustrative Oxford Book
 http://en.wikipedia.org
 Comprehensive Practical Physics
 www.wisegeek.com
 www.britannica.com
 www.amrita.edu

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PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

SUBMITTED BY :- TEJ KANJARIYA

CBSE ROLL NO. :-

This is to certify that, TEJ KANJARIYA , of grade

SI.No Content Page no.

4. ABOUT THE TOPIC 09-11

6. OBSERVATION TABLE 14-15

I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep

 To determine the reduction factor of the given

 To find out the horizontal component of earth’s

If θ is the deflection of the needle, then according to

B = μonI/2a (2) (a is the radius of the coil)

Equating (1) and (2), we get,

Bh tanθ = μonI/2a (3)

2aBh/μon = I/tanθ (4)

Principle & Formulae:

Table 1: For variation of θ with I.

Mean radius of coil R= 8.04x10-2

Horizontal Intensity at the place Bh = μonK/2r

Now, substitute (1) in formula = μo 2πN/4π RH

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