Figure of Merit Expt.4

DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL
BOKARO STEEL CITY

CLASS XII
PHYSICS PRACTICAL
Date: 22/08/2020
EXPERIMENT NO. 4
Aim - To determine the resistance of a galvanometer by half deflection method and to find its
figure of merit.
Apparatus Required
• A Weston type galvanometer

• A battery or battery eliminator
• Two resistance boxes
• Two one-way keys
• Connecting wires
Theory
Galvanometer
A galvanometer is a device used to detect feeble electric currents in a circuit. It consists of a coil
suspended between the poles of a powerful magnet. As current passes through the coil, it deflects.
It can be detected from the deflection on galvanometer needle. The deflection is proportional to
the current passed through it.
Resistance of galvanometer by half deflection method
Circuit Diagram
Here, current will flow through the circuit when key k1 is closed and k2 is open. The current
flowing through the galvanometer is proportional to the deflection in it.
Where, E - emf of the cell
R - resistance from the resistance box
G - galvanometer resistance for current I
θ - galvanometer deflection for current I
k – proportionality constant.
When k2 is closed and by adjusting the shunt resistance S, we can make galvanometer deflection
as θ/2.
Then the current in the circuit is;
Now, a fraction, S/ (G+S) of the current in the circuit is flows through the galvanometer, which is
given by,
Now, from the above relations, we can get the resistance of the given galvanometer as,
Figure of merit of a galvanometer
Figure of merit is in general is the numerical value representing the degree of effectiveness or
efficiency of an instrument approximated by different estimation techniques.
The figure of merit of a galvanometer is the current required to produce a deflection of one division
in the galvanometer scale. It is represented by the letter k, and is given as,
Procedure –
Resistance of galvanometer by half deflection method:
• Arrange the components on a table and connect them as per the circuit diagram.
• Make sure that plugs of the resistance boxes are tight.
• Take out a high resistance from the resistance box 1 and insert the key k1.
• Adjust the resistance from this resistance box to get maximum galvanometer deflection.
• Note the deflection and record it as θ in the tubular column.
• Insert the key k2 also, without changing the value on the resistance box.
• Now, adjust the resistance from the low resistance box such that galvanometer shows
deflection which is exactly half of the previous reading.
• Record the value of low resistance box.
• We can repeat the experiment by changing the value of high resistance R and adjusting
low resistance S.
• The resistance of the given galvanometer can be calculated each time by using the relation
G= RS/(R-S).
Figure of merit of the galvanometer :
• Release key k2 from the connection. Insert key k1.

• Adjust the value of R such that the galvanometer shows a certain deflection.
• Record the observations in a tabular column.
• Repeat the experiment by changing the value of R and note the galvanometer deflection
each time.
• We can find the figure of merit of the galvanometer by using the equation, k= E/(R+G)θ.
Observations
Resistance of the galvanometer by half deflection method.
Galvanometer
Resistance, R Deflection in the Shunt Half resistance

SL.
No. deflection,
galvanometer, Resistance,
1
3000 30 105 15
2
3500 26 105 13
3
4600 20 105 10
4
5000 18 105 9
5
5700 16 105 8
Figure of merit of the galvanometer
Figure of Merit,
Resistance, R Deflection,
SL.
No.
(div.) (Amp/div)
1
3000 30
2
3500 26
3
4600 20
4
5000 18
5
5700 16
Calculations
Calculate the value of G in each case and record it in the tabular column. The mean of these
calculated values will give the resistance of the given galvanometer.
Calculate the value of k in each case and record it in the tabular column. The mean of these
calculated values will give the figure of merit of the given galvanometer.
Results
The resistance of the given galvanometer, G =--------- Ω
The figure of merit of the given galvanometer, k =---------- Amp / div.
Precautions – Write atleast two points

Sources of Errors – Write atleast two points

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DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL

BOKARO STEEL CITY

• A Weston type galvanometer

Resistance of galvanometer by half deflection method

R - resistance from the resistance box

G - galvanometer resistance for current I

θ - galvanometer deflection for current I

Then the current in the circuit is;

Figure of merit of a galvanometer

Resistance of galvanometer by half deflection method:

Figure of merit of the galvanometer :

• Release key k2 from the connection. Insert key k1.

Resistance of the galvanometer by half deflection method.

Resistance, R Deflection in the Shunt Half resistance

The figure of merit of the given galvanometer, k =---------- Amp / div.

Precautions – Write atleast two points

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