KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA, NIT SILCHAR

PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT 2022-23

A STUDY ON THE
EARTH’S MAGNETIC
FIELD USING A
TANGENT
GALVANOMETER

Submitted by,
PURBITA BANIK
ROLL NO.-13
CLASS XII

1
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the investigatory project entitled…………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………
Submitted by ……………………………………………………………………………….
Enrolment number………………………….to class……………………………………….
Physics CBSE examination for the award of AISSCE during the session 2022-23 under
the guidance of Mr/Mrs/Miss……………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………

DATE:…………

PLACE:…………

SUBJECT TEACHER: PRINCIPAL:

INTERNAL EXAMINER EXTERNAL EXAMINER

2
 CONTENT

SL. NO TOPIC PAGE NO.

1. Acknowledgement 4
2. Aim 5
3. Apparatus 6-7
4. Tangent galvanometer 8
5. Construction 8
6. Setting 8
7. Theory and working 9
8. Tangent law 9
9. Proof 10-11
10. Procedure 12
11. Precautions 13
12. References 14

3
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The success and final outcome of this project required a lot of guidance and assistance from
many people, and I am extremely privileged to have got this all along the completion of
my project. All that I have done is only due to such supervision and assistance and I would
not forget to thank them.
I respect and thank Principal of K.V N.I.T Silchar, for providing me this
golden opportunity to do the project work and giving us all support and guidance which
made me complete the project duly.
I owe my deep gratitude to our project guide Mr. Kamlesh Kumar (Physics teacher) whose
valuable guidance and suggestions has been the one that helped me patch this project and
make it full proof success.
I am thankful to and fortunate enough to get constant motivation from my parents in my
every steps.
Last but not the least, I would like to thank each and every one who directly or indirectly
helped me in completion of the project.

4
 AIM

➢ To study the earth’s magnetic field using a tangent galvanometer.

5
 APPARATUS

➢ A tangent galvanometer

➢ A battery (0 to 6 V)

➢ a rheostat (20Ω)

➢ spirit level

➢ reversing key

6
➢ an ammeter (range 0 to 3A)

➢ connecting wires

➢ metre scale

7
TANGENT GALVANOMETER
A tangent galvanometer is a moving magnet type galvanometer.it is used for measuring
very small currents.its working is based on tangent law in magnetism.

CONSTRUCTION
It consists of a circular frame of a non-magnetic material, on which three coils having
250 and 500 turns of fine insulated copper wire are wound. Ends of each coil are
connected to screws at the horizontal turn table in which the frame is mounted vertically.
A circular compass box of non-magnetic material is held at the centre of circular frame.
This box has a small magnetic needle pivoted at its centre with a long thin aluminium
pointer fixed at 90 degrees to the needle. Both are free to move on a horizontal circular
scale graduated in degrees and divided into four quadrants of 0 degrees to 90 degrees
each. A small plane mirror is fixed at the base under the pointer. This would remove error
dur to parallex in reading the position of the pointer on the scale. The turn table is
provided with three levelling screws.

Fig 1. Tangent galvanometer

SETTING
1. Adjust the levelling screws so that turn table is horizontal and circular coil frame
is vertical.
2. Turn the frame so that the plane of the frame becomes parallel to the magnetic
needle. This sets the frame in magnetic meridian.
3. Turn the compass box so that ends of the aluminium pointer lie on zero-zero line.

8
THEORY AND WORKING

When a current I is passed through the coil, a magnetic field F (in tesla) is produced at
the centre and along a direction perpendicular to the plane of the coil, given by
µ 2𝜋𝑛𝐼
𝐹 = 4𝜋𝑜 𝑟

where r is the radius of the coil (in m) and n is the number of turns in it.
Since the plane of the coil is in magnetic meridian, the horizontal component of earth’s
magnetic field H, acts in the plane of coil. It means F and H are perpendicular to each
other. Thus, the magnetic needle of compass box is under the combined effect of two
perpendicular magnetic fields F and H. the needle gets deflected and comes to rest
making an angle (ϴ) with the direction of H. This angle is read from the end of the
aluminium pointer.
According to tangent law
or 𝐹 = 𝐻 tan 𝛳
µ𝑜 2𝜋𝑛𝐼
or = 𝐻 tan 𝛳
4𝜋 𝑟
4𝜋𝑟𝐻 tan 𝛳
or I= µ0 2𝜋𝑛

2𝑟𝐻
or I= µ tan 𝛳
𝑜𝑛

µ 2𝜋𝑟𝑛 1
From (1), H=4𝜋𝑜 × tan 𝛳
𝑟

From (2), we have

𝐼 = 𝐾 tan 𝛳
2𝑟𝐻
where, = 𝐾, a constant known as reduction factor of tangent galvanometer.
µ𝑜 𝑛

Therefore, the reduction factor of tangent galvanometer is defined as the current in

amperes which when passed through the tangent galvanometer produces a deflection of
45 degrees.

TANGENT LAW
When a magnet is suspended under the combined actions of two uniform magnetic fields
of intensities F and H, acting at 90 degrees to each other, the magnet comes to rest
making an angle ϴ with the direction of H such that
𝐹 = 𝐻 tan 𝛳

9
 PROOF

Fig 2. Tangent law

Consider a bar magnet of pole strength m, magnetic length 2l suspended under the
combined action of two perpendicular magnetic fields F and H. the magnet comes to rets
making an angle ϴ with h.
A torque acts on the magnet due to each field.as the magnet is in equilibrium, therefore
clockwise torque due to field F=anticlockwise torque due to field H.
or mF×NA=mH×SA
𝑆𝐴
or F=H𝑁𝐴 = 𝐻tan 𝛳

i.e., F=𝐻𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝛳
For the tangent galvanometer we have the relation
I=Ktan 𝛳
µ 𝐵 𝑟
Where K=(4𝜋𝑜 )−1 × 2𝜋𝑛
𝐻

𝐼
From (i), we have K=tan 𝛳

From equation (ii) and (iii), we have

µ 𝐵 𝑟 𝐼
(4𝜋𝑜 )−1 × 2𝜋𝑛
𝐻
= tan 𝛳
𝐼×2𝜋𝑛 µ
or 𝐵𝐻 = 𝑟 tan 𝛳 × (4𝜋𝑜 )

10
Knowing the value of I,n,r and tan 𝛳, the walue of 𝐵𝐻 can be computed.
µ 𝐼2𝜋𝑛
Also, from eqn.(iv)tan 𝛳 = (4𝜋𝑜 ) 𝐵 and a graph of tan 𝛳 vs. I would be a straight line
𝐻𝑟
µ 2𝜋𝑛
with the slope=(4𝜋𝑜 ) 𝐵
𝐻𝑟

11
 PROCEDURE

1. Using the spirit level, level the base and the compass box of the tangent galvanometer
by adjusting the levelling screws.
2. Now rotate the coil of the tangent galvanometer about its vertical axis, till the magnetic
needle, its image in the plane 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 the
aluminium 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.
3. Switch on the current through the galvanometer by closing the key K. Read both ends
of the pointer after gently trapping the compass box. Using the reversing key (RK.),
reverse the direction of the current through the coil and again read the values of
deflection shown by the two ends of the pointer on the scale. When the mean values of
the deflections shown by the pointer in the two cases (i.e., before and after reversing
the current) differ by more than 10, then turn slightly the vertical coil until the two
values agree. This will set the plane of the coil exactly ill the magnetic meridian. Now
mark the positions of the levelling screws on the working table with a piece of chalk.
4. Bring the deflection in the galvanometer reading around 450 by adjusting the rheostat
suitably and in no case the deflection should be outside the range (300 600).
5. Record the readings of the ammeter and the deflection of the compass needle shown
by the two ends of the aluminium pointer on the scale.
6. Now reverse the current through the coil of the tangent galvanometer by turning the
reversing key and record the values of current and deflection of the compass needle as
in step 8.
7. Change the current through the coil of the tangent galvanometer by shifting the
position of rheostat in such a way that the deflection lies within (300 600) range and
record the readings as explained in steps 8 and 9.
8. By changing the value of current through the coil, take four more sets of observations
keeping the deflection within 300 600 range.
9. Measure the inner and outer diameters of the coil with a metre scale at least two times

12
 Precautions

1. Make sure that the circuit connections are neat and tight and plugs are not loose.

2. The battery or accumulator used should be freshly charged,

3. The reversing key should be switched off when readings are not being taken.

4. The magnetic needle should swing freely in the horizontal plane. Levelling and other
setting for this purpose should be done carefully.
5. All the magnetic materials and current carrying wires should be taken far away from the
apparatus
6. The plane of the coil should be carefully set in the magnetic meridian. This is the most
essential requirement of this investigation,
7. Both the ends of the pointer should be read for direct as well as reverse currents and the
mean of these four readings should be taken.
8. While noting down the deflection of the pointer ends, error due to parallax should be
avoided and the compass box should be gently tapped before taking each reading.
9. All the observed values of the deflection should be adjusted between 300 and 600 as the
accuracy of measurements is maximum when the deflection is around 450.

13
 REFERENCES

1. http://www.slideshare.net/
2. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/
3. Laboratory manual Physics (Arya publications)

14