PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

EARTH MAGNETIC FIELD’S MAGNETIC FIELD USING TANGENT

GALVANOMETER

Prepared by: Roll No:

PHYSICS
INVESTIG
ATORY
REPORT
EARTH MAGNETIC FIELD

Although historically ancient travelers

made abundant use of the earth’s
magnetic field for the exploration of
the earth, they were ignorant of its
origin. In many respects the earth’s
magnetic field exhibits characteristics
similar to those of a bar magnet;
nonetheless, the mechanisms
responsible for generating each are
vastly different. Magnetic field lines
appear to originate near the south
geographic pole, i.e. magnetic north
pole, and terminate near the north
geographic pole, i.e. magnetic south
pole. It is interesting to note that in the
vicinity of Wilmington, North Carolina
the magnetic field lines enter the earth
at a relatively steep angle. The angle
of inclination or dip angle, which is the
angle that a compass

needle makes with respect to the plane

of the horizon, is approximately 60. In
this experiment principles of
magnetostatics and elementary vector
analysis are used to determine the
earth’s magnetic field in the vicinity of
Wilmington, North Carolina.
 Jawahar Navodaya
Vidyalaya

Certificate
2016-17

This is to certify that of Class XII has

completed the Physics Project entitled “To
determine Earth Magnetic Field using Tangent
Galvanometer” himself and under my guidance.
The progress of the project has been
continuously reported and has been in my
knowledge consistently.

…………….………. …………….……….
Internal Examiner External Examiner
…………….……….

…………….……….
Principal
…………….……….
Acknowledgement

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my Physics teacher, Mr.

Akbar Basha for giving us the wonderful opportunity to do a case
study and providing vital support, guidance and encouragement
throughout the project. Without his motivation and help,the successful
completion of this project would not be possible. Secondly i would
also like to thank my friends who helped me a lot in finalizing this
project within the limited time frame.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Overview................................................................................................................................................. 5
Aim of the Project.................................................................................................................................... 5
Apparatus and Materials required........................................................................................................... 6
Theory..................................................................................................................................................... 7
Applications...................................................................................................................................... 8
Procedure............................................................................................................................................... 8
The initial ADJUSTMENTS..............................................................................
Procedure for performing simulator.................................................................................................. 9

To determine the horizontal component of earth’s magnetic field (Bh)............................................10

To determine the reduction factor of T.G........................................................................................10
From graph.................................................................................................................................... 11
Result.................................................................................................................................................... 11
Facts.............................................................................................................................................. 11
Applications.......................................................................................................................................... 11
Bibliography.......................................................................................................................................... 12
The Tangent galvanometer................................................................................................................... 12
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OVERVIEW
The tangent galvanometer was first described in an 1837 by Claude-Servais- Mathias Pouillet, who
later employed this sensitive form of galvanometer to verify Ohm’s law. To use the galvanometer, it is
first set up on a level surface and the coil aligned with the magnetic north-south direction. This means
that the compass needle at the middle of the coil is parallel with the plane of the coil when it carries no
current. The current to be measured is now sent through the coil, and produces a magnetic field,
perpendicular to the plane of the coil and is directly proportional to the current.

The magnitude of the magnetic field produced by the coil is B; the magnitude of the horizontal
component the Earth’s magnetic field is B’. the compass needle aligns itself along the vector sum of B
and B’ after rotating through an angle Ø from its original orientation. The vector diagram shows that tan
Ø = B/B’. since the magnetic field of the Earth is constant, and B depends directly on the current, the
current is thus proportional to the tangent of the angle through which the needle has turned.

AIM OF THE PROJECT

The aim of the project is to find the ‘reduction factor’ of the given tangent galvanometer (K) and
the horizontal component of the Earth’s magnetic field (BH).

o To determine the reduction factor of the given tangent galvanometer (K).

o To find out the horizontal component of earth’s magnetic field (Bh).

Topviewofa
tangentgal
vanometer
madeabout
1950.Thein
dicatornee
dle
ofthecomp
assisperpe
n
diculartoth
eshorter,bl
ackmagnet
icneedle.

TangentgalvanometermadebyJ.H. BunnellCo.around1890
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APPARATUS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED
o Tangent galvanometer (TG),
o commutator (C),
o rheostat (R),
o battery (E), o
ammeter (A), o
key (k), etc o

Tangent Galvanometer Plug Key

Battery Eliminator a) Rotor view b) Ordinary view

Rheostat

6
When a bar magnet is suspended in two Magnetic fields B and Bh, it comes to rest making an angle
θ with the direction ofBh.

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. When a current is passed through the circular coil, a magnetic field
(B) is produced at the center of the coil in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the coil. The TG is
arranged in such a way that the horizontal component of earth’s magnetic field (Bh) is in the direction of the
plane of the coil. The magnetic needle is then under the action of two mutually perpendicular fields.
If θ is the deflection of the needle, then according to tangent law,

Let I is the current passing through the coil of radius a with n turns, then the field generated by the
current carrying circular coil is,

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

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The left hand side of equation (4) is a constant and is called the reduction factor (K) of the
given tangent galvanometer.

Now from equation (3) & (5), the horizontal intensity of earth’s magnetic field Bh is,

APPLICATIONS

o T.G can be used to measure the magnitude of the horizontal component of the geomagnetic
field.
o The principle can be used to compare the galvanometer constants.

PROCEDURE

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 .
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PROCEDURE FOR PERFORMING EXPERIMENT

1. The plane of the coil is made vertical by adjusting the leveling screws.
2. The compass box alone is rotated so that the 90-90 line in the compass box is in the plane of
the coil.
3. The T.G as a whole is rotated till the Aluminium pointer reads 0-0.
4. Note down the number of turns in the coil.
5. A suitable current is allowed to pass through the coil.
6. Note down the currrent as well as the deflection in T.G.
7. Reverse the current and note the deflection again.
8. Repeat the procedure for different values of current.
9. Plot the graph.
10. Measure the radius of the coil from its perimeter by using a thread and rotating it around the
round circle.
11. Determine the reduction factor and horizontal intensity of earth's magnetic field.
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TO DETERMINE THE HORIZONTAL COMPONENT OF EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD (BH)

The Horizontal component of earth's magnetic field (Bh) can be calculated using the formula,

TO DETERMINE THE REDUCTION FACTOR OF T.G

10
1 0.15 56 56 60 60 58 1.6003 0.13

2 0.18 62 62 66 66 64 2.0503 0.18

3 0.22 67 67 71 71 69 2.6059 0.22

4 0.26 70 70 74 74 72 3.0777 0.26

FROM GRAPH

Reduction factor K of the tangent

galvanometer can be determined

From the graph drawn as,

RESULT
The reduction factor of the given tangent galvanometer, K =...19.75.........A

Horizontal component of earth’s magnetic field, Bh =...........T

FACTS


The tangent galvanometer is an early measuring instrument for Current

The magnetic field produced by a circular coil carrying current I is Proportional to I

The S.I unit of magnetic field is Tesla

The magnitude of horizontal intensity of earth’s magnetic field is3.5x10⁻⁵ T

For better result while doing tangent galvanometer experiment, the deflection should
be in between 30-60

What is the value of µ₀ ? 4πx10⁻⁷ NA⁻ ²

APPLICATIONS

T.G. 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.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Tangent Galvanometer (Procedure) : Electricity & Magnetism Virtual Lab : Physical Sciences :
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Virtual Lab

Tangent Galvanometer (Theory) : Electricity & Magnetism Virtual Lab : Physical Sciences :
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Virtual Lab

Tangent
Galvanometerhttp://physics.kenyon.edu/EarlyApparatus/Electrical_Measurements/Tangent_Gal

van ometer/Tangent_Galvanometer.html
Galvanometer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanometer

THE TANGENT GALVANOMETER

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