Experiment Name: To Determine The Resistance of a Galvanometer by Half-

Deflection Method.
Theory : In the arrangement shown in Fig. 01, if the shunt resistance (S) is very
small compared to the galvanometer resistance RG , then the potential difference
(V) between the ends of the shunt resistance (S) remains nearly constant for all
values of R1.
Thus when R1=0, then the galvanometer current IG is given by
𝑽
IG = = kd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1)
𝑹𝑮

Where d is the deflection of the spot of light on the scale and k is the
galvanometer constant. If now a resistance R1 is introduced in the galvanometer
𝐝 𝑽 𝒅
circuit such that the deflection reduces to Then , I’G = = k . . . . . .. . . .
𝟐 𝑹𝑮 +𝐑 𝟏 𝟐
.. . .(2)
Where I’G is the new galvanometer current in the changed circumstances.
Dividing (1) by (2), we get
𝐈𝑮 𝑹𝑮 +𝐑 𝟏 𝟐𝒌𝒅
= =
𝐈′𝐆 𝑹𝑮 𝒌𝒅

Or, 𝑹𝑮 + R1 = 2𝑹𝑮
Or, 𝑹𝑮 = R1 . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . (3)
Hence by simply measuring R1 , RG can be find out.

Figure: Circuit diagram of Half Deflection Method.

Apparatus:
(i).Suspended coil Galvanometer
(ii). Shunt Box S
(iii). Resistance R and R1
(iv). Commutator K
(v). Battery E
(v). Connecting wires etc.

Procedure :
(i). At first we made connection as shown in fig.(01). Then we brought one
sharp edge of light at the zero mark of the scale.

(ii).We inserted a resistance (R) of the order of 1000 ohms in the battery
circuit and resistance R1 = 0 by putting all the plugs in the box. We took the
smallest value (S = 0.1) of the shunt resistance S and go on increasing S until we
obtain a deflection of about 10 cm on the scale and note this deflection.

(iii). We were keeping the resistance R constant and adjust the value of the
resistance R1 until the deflection is reduced to half of the former. We record this
value of R1 which is the value of the galvanometer resistance RG.

(iv). We stop the current in the circuit and examine if the same sharp edge of
the spot of light is still at zero of the scale. If not, we adjust the scale to bring it to
zero. We made the value of R1 zero and keep R the same. Then we took reverse the
current with the commutator K and repeat the whole operation to get another
value of RG.

(v).We were keeping the value of the resistance R the same and change the
value of the shunt resistance S to obtain a different deflection of round about 10
cm and similarly determine the value of RG.

(vi). We repeated the operation three times with different value of R in the
battery circuit and two values of S for each R.
Data Collection:
Shunt
No. Direction Resistance Resistance Resistance Mean
resistance Galvanometer
of of R R1 R1 = RG RG
S Deflections
Obs. Currents Ω Ω Ω Ω
Ω
0
Direct
01
0
Reverse
0
Direct
02
0
Reverse
0
Direct
03
0
Reverse
0
Direct
04
0
Reverse
0
Direct
05
0
Reverse

Calculation :
Mean Galvanometer resistance
𝑹𝑮 = Ohm’s
10

= ohm’s
10

= ohm’s
 From equation (3) we get,
Galvanometer resistance RG = R1 = ohm’s
Actual value of galvanometer resistance = 140 Ω
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 ~ 𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
Percentage of error = × 100 %
Actual value

= × 100 %
= %

Result: The resistance of a Galvanometer is = _____________ ohm’s

And Percentage of error = ________________

Precautions & Discussions:

(i). All the connections should be neat, clean and tight.

(ii). All the plugs in the resistance box should be keyed properly.
(iii). The cell should have a constant e.m.f. all through the experiment.
(iv). Initially a high resistance from the resistance box (R) should be introduced in
the circuit to avoid any damage to the galvanometer.
(v). The value of R must be very large as compare to value of G.