PHYSICS PROJECT

PHYSICS

SUBMITTED BY-
MUMMADI BINDU
CLASS - 12
2017-2018
 ACKNOWLEGEMENT

I would like to express my immense gratitude to my chemistry teacher Prof. Kiran, for the
help and guidance he provided for completing the project.

I also thank my parents who gave their ideas and inputs in making this Project. Most of all i
thank our school management, for providing us the facilities and opportunity to do this
project.

Lastly, I would like to thank my school mates who have rendered and done this project along
with me. Their support made this project fruitful.

Mummadi Bindu
 Certificate

This is to certify that Mummadi Bindu, student of class XII, Sri Chaitanya School has
successfully completed research in the below given project under the heading ‘To study the
earth’s magnetic field using a tangent galvanometer’ during the academic session 2017-2018
under the guidance of Prof.Kiran conducted by AISSCE, New Delhi.

Signature of external examiner Signature of physics teacher

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 earth’s 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 B h, it comes to rest making an
angle θ 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 non-magnetic 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 𝐵𝐻 , the magnet comes to rest making an angle θ with the direction H
such that

F = 𝐵𝐻 tan θ

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
𝜇 2𝜋𝐼𝑁
F=
4𝜋 𝑅

Let 𝐵𝐻 is the horizontal component of earth’s magnetic field and the magnetic needle comes
to rest at an angle θ with the direction of BH then Eq. (1) and (2)
𝜇 2𝜋𝐼𝑁
𝐵𝐻 tan 𝜃 =
4𝜋 𝑅

2𝜋𝐼𝑁
𝐵𝐻 tan 𝜃 = 10−7
𝑅

2𝜋𝐼𝑁
𝐵𝐻 = 10−7
𝑅 tan 𝜃
By substituting the value of current I, from Eq. (3)
tan 𝜃 𝜇𝑜 2𝜋𝑁
=
𝐼 4𝜋 𝑅𝐻

𝜇𝑜 𝑁𝑘
𝐵𝐻 =
2𝑅

𝐼
K=
tan 𝜃

radius of coil of galvanometer R, deflection θ 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 Earth’s 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. Ammeter Reading Value of deflection,  𝝁. 𝒏𝑲

𝑩𝑯 =
N 𝟐. 𝒂
(A) Mean Tan
o.
For direct For reverse  𝑩𝒉 × 𝟏𝟎𝟕
current current

Observed Corrected 1 2 3 4

1. 0.5 0.5 10 10 10 10 10 0.1763 3.5630

2. 1 1 25 25 25 25 25 0.4663 2.690

3. 1.5 1.5 35 35 35 35 35 0.7002 2.637

4. 2 2 45 45 45 45 45 1.000 2.510
CALCULATIONS

Horizontal intensity of Earth’s magnetic field,

𝜇.𝑛.𝐾
𝐵ℎ is, 𝐵ℎ =
2.𝑎

𝐴𝐵
Reduction factor K can be determined from the graph as, K=
𝐵𝐶

RESULT

Reduction factor of the given Tangent Galvanometer,

K=2.448 A

Horizontal component of Earth’s magnetic field,

𝐵ℎ = 2.8 × 10−7 T

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/Galvanometer
 www.icbse.com
 www.cbse.nic.in