CERTIFICATE

ROLL NO. _________

This is to certify that the practical work satisfactorily carried out in
the laboratory and hence recorded in this life is the bonafide work of

Mr./ Miss ………………………….

of the class………………………..
in the laboratory of ……………..
during the academic year 2010-2011

Teacher Examiner’s Seal of

In charge signature school

Date ………………. Principal

BASIC CONCEPTS ABOUT A GALVANOMETER

GALVANOMETER :-
A galvanometer is sensitive device to detect and measure
extremely currents even of the order of a few amperes.

The commonly used galvanometer in school laboratories is “pivoted

type moving coil galvanometer”. We have already discussed the
construction and working principle of such a galvanometer.

It is observed that deflection 0 obtained in a galvanometer

is directly proportional to the amount of current I being passed
through it. Thus,

I α 0 or I = k0

Where K is a constant known as ‘figure of merit’ of given

galvanometer. It is defined as the amount of current passed
through galvanometer which produces a deflection of one scale
division. Its unit is A / division or µA division. Reciprocal of
figure of merit of galvanometer is known as its ‘current
sensitivity;. Thus current sensitivity of a galvanometer is
defined as deflection produced per unit current. Current
sensitivity is commonly measured in division/ µA.

HALF DEFLECTION METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF GALVANOMETER RESISTANCE

The electrical circuit for finding the galvanometer resistance by

half deflection method is shown in figure. Here RB is a high
resistance box (0-5000Ω) joined in series and S is the shunt
resistance box (0-500Ω) joined in parallel to the galvanometer.

Initially a suitably high resistance R is inserted fom

resistance box R.B so that on inserting plug in key KI we obtgain
a deflection 0(preferably even ) in galvanometer. Then plug is also introduced in key K2
and a suitable and a suitable resistance is inserted from the shunt resistance box so that deflection
in galvanometer becomes just half (0/2) of its original value. It G be the resistance of
galvanometer. Then obliviously initial value of the current passing through the galvanometer is

Ig = €/R+G = k 0