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Full Experiment: The Ballistic Galvanometer and Damped Oscillations
Full Experiment: The Ballistic Galvanometer and Damped Oscillations
Full Experiment:
Page 1
2. Preparatory Task
Read the entire script; familiarise yourself with the learning outcomes and skills
required. If you are not confident in having acquired the skills you will be using
today, make use of the web resource where you can gain further practice. Write a
short paragraph in your lab book giving details about the experiment, its aims and a
brief outline of the theory behind the experiment.
Read sections 25.5 of Tipler (5th edition)
which describe potential and current
dividers.
If ( P + G ) is much larger than R, then
the total resistance of the galvanometer
part can be approximated to R. The
resistors Q and R form a potential
divider If Q is much larger than R, the
potential difference, VR is small. Write down an expression that gives VR in terms of E,
Q and R and evaluate the resistance Q required to produce a voltage drop VR of
5 10 4V assuming that E = 5V . [Hint: The resistance of the galvanometer/1 part
of the circuit is given by 1
=1 + 1
.]
RTotal
R
( P + G)
Page 2
I ( P+ G ) =
VR
ER
=
( P + G ) ( R + Q )( P + G )
(1)
[1 Mark]
Page 3
3. Ready to Start
In this experiment you will use the galvanometer as a voltmeter.
The resistance of the galvanometer is governed by the metallic coil. Typical values of
resistance of metallic coils are in the range of 1 to 1000. This range is controlled by
the composition and amount of the coil material. Therefore, in order to use a
galvanometer as a sensitive voltmeter we will need to add a large resistance in series
with it. Recall from skills session 1 that the resistance of a voltmeter should be very
high.
The galvanometer with the resistance box P in series with it act as a voltmeter,
measuring the voltage drop across the 1 resistor, VR. The current that flows through
the galvanometer part of the circuit is supplied by this potential difference. VR is made
small by dropping the source voltage E (approx 5V) across the potential divider Q and
R, with Q much larger than R.
The current flowing through the combination of P and G will induce a torque on the
galvanometer coil which in turn will deflect the light beam a distance d, the
magnitude of d being proportional to the current flow:
(2)
What are the SI units of k? In what units should you record the deflection?
The constant of proportionality k is defined as the current sensitivity, and so from
equation (1) we can say that:
E
R
d =k
(3)
( P + G ) (R + Q )
Page 4
OR
P=
RE k
G
R +Q d
(4)
The values of k and G can be found by varying P and recording the displacement of
the galvanometer beam.
Task 4:
Set the power supply to give 5V. Record its value and uncertainty in your lab book.
Construct the circuit below using the components you have already identified.
Initially set P = 1000 and Q = 10,000 . This should cause the beam to move by a
couple of centimetres. Reduce P and increase Q to keep the deflection on the scale.
Continue until P is zero and then adjust Q to give an almost full scale deflection.
Then keep Q fixed and make a note of its value and uncertainty in your lab book.
Now make a series of measurements of the deflection d as P is increased.
From equation (4), a plot of P against 1 d will give a straight line with an intercept
of G. However, as it is P that we are varying (the dependent variable), this should be
P G
plotted on the x axis. The straight line graph you should plot is
= +
(c.f.
d k k
RE
y = mx + c ) where =
. Calculate and its error, and use a spreadsheet to
R+ Q
generate the data in a form that will be suitable for plotting.
Page 5
[Hint: The % errors on R, E, Q are all approximately 1%. The error on R+Q is the
same as that of Q alone. Thus, we can approximate the error on as being 3% ]
Use Excel and Linest to find the slope and intercept of your graph. Make sure you
only use data for which the error bars are not too large in your least squares
calculation. Use these values to determine the current sensitivity k and the value of G.
What are the uncertainties in these measurements?
[2 Marks]
Carefully look at the back of the galvanometer, and you will see a
summary of its properties when it was tested some years ago. Do your
values for the resistance and current sensitivity agree, within error, with
the quoted values?
Page 6
This time the potential divider P and S provides a voltage to charge a standard
capacitor, C. This capacitor can be discharged into the galvanometer using the Morse
key.
The amount of charge, Q, discharged is simply given by Q = VC with the voltage
dropped across the capacitor, V, given by the potential divider P and S. Thus we have
that the charge is given by:
P
Q = EC
(5)
(P + S)
This instantaneous current (charge pulse) provides the impulse to set the
galvanometer into oscillations. The coil begins to swing, but because of damping it
will not reach its maximum deflection a0 . Instead it is deflected to a1 on the first
swing, a2 on the second and so on at the following times:
t =T4
d = a1
3T
a2
5T
a3
(6)
A = exp ( t )
(7)
with the damping term. It follows then that the ratio of successive amplitudes is
related to the period of oscillation, T, and is given by:
a1 a2 a3
= = = exp T
2
a2 a3 a4
( )
(8)
where
( BAn )
=
Page 7
2
a0
a
= exp T 4 = exp T 2 = 1
a1
a2
( )
( )
a0 = a1 a1 a
2
(9)
The Charge sensitivity can be defined as the maximum amplitude divided by the
charge. Therefore from equation (5) we can write:
K=
a0
(P + S)
= a0
Q
ECP
a0 = K
OR
ECP
(P+ S )
(10)
Task 5:
Make ( P + S ) a simple multiple of E (say 1000 E ) and keep it constant. Set the
capacitor to 0.5F. For a range of values of P (keeping P+S fixed) measure the
deflections a1 and a2. Use an excel spreadsheet to calculate a0 and its error for each
value of P. From the graph of a0 against P find the slope and its error and hence
obtain a value for K and its error. Compare your answer with the calibrated value on
the back of the galvanometer.
3
a1 2
. The error on a0
1
a22
a 9 a 1 a
can therefore be expressed as: 0 = 1 + 2 . The oscillations can be
4 a1 4 a 2
a0
stopped by shorting the galvanometer by pressing the switch when the oscillation pass
the equilibrium point]
[2 Marks]
What limits your precision K? Can you think of ways of
improving your experiment?
Page 8
6. To conclude
You will find information on galvanometers in Tipler, and most undergraduate text
books. Damped oscillations appeared as part of the Wave Phenomena course.
For your extended report You should give a full account of the phenomena
described in this experiment. You should concentrate on providing more background
information about galvanometers. Make sure that your graphs are presented clearly,
and that all error propagations are carefully explained. Compare your experimentally
determined values with those on the back of the galvanometer. Discuss any systematic
errors and describe any possible sources of error in your experiment and how you
could improve the precision of your measurements.