AlM

lodetermine the resistance of a moving coil galvanometer by half-deflection

method and to find its figure of
merit.

APPARATUS REQUIRED
Moving coil galvanometer
High resistance box
Low resistance box
Lechlanche cell

Two one-way keys

Connecting wires

Sandpaper

DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS
Galvanometer is a device which is used to detect
the presence of (or to measure) small current in acircuit A
weston type galvanometer commonly used in laboratóry.When a current is passed through thegaivanometer, its
is

coil experiences a
torque. As a result,thehair spring gets twisted and consequently the pointershows a reading on
its.scale. A sensitive
galvanometer shouldgive full scale deflection for a small currentdepending onits resistance

THEORY/PRINCIPLE/FORMULA
A galvanometer works on the principle that a coil placed in a uniform magnetic field experiences a torque

when an electric current is set up in the coil.

A galvanometer is said to be sensitive if it shows large deflection for a small current. Mathematically, its

sensitivity is
expressed as deflection per unit current.
 i.e Current sensitivity,L
= Deflection
Current
A galvanometer should have low resistance.

Figure of Merit: The figure of merit of a galvanometer is defined as the current required to produce a
deflection of one division in the galvanometer.
The a galvanometer E
figure of merit (k) of is givenby

k= E
0(R+G)
SeeFig 1)

where E EMF of the cell

Galvanometer deflection in divisions

RH 1
R Fig
Resistance in the circuit (from the resistance box)

G Resistance of galvanometer
The resistance of the galvanometer is calculated by the formula:
RS
G=
R-S
where R Resistance introduced by high resistance box to produce deflection 0.
S Resistance introduced by low resistance box to gethalf deflection 0/2.

DIAGRAM
Box
E High Resistance
K
R R

Low Resistance Box

T- RS
Fig. 2

DDO enuIDE
 ie Note the deflection in the galvanometer and the
galvanometer is half of the previous deflection

value of resistance S.

7. Repeat steps 3 to 6 for five different value of R and 0 to get different observato

OBSERVATIONS
1. Emf of the cell, E =. volt.

TABLE
(A) Table for G
RS
S. No. Half deflection, G=
Resistance, Galvanometer Resistance R-S
0/2 (div.)

6
R (ohm) 0 (div.) S (ohm) (ohm)
deflection,

1. 72 I3 73 05
2. 700D
800D
18
16
70
70
9 70 70
70 61
4.
5.
9oD 14
13
72
70
7
6.5
10
704 5
Mean G= 7108
(B) Table for k
E.M.F. of the Cell (E) =Q%... volt

S. No. Resistance introduced Galvanometer Figure of merit,

E
in the resistancebox, R (ohm) deflection, 0 (div.) k e(R+G)
(amp/div.)

500D 26 l5)x16S
1.
6
3
2 7oo0
8000 0 16
14
18 1S7xS
:57x |o
5.
10ob0 3 :52x 10
Mean, k = /:54 x10S

CALCULATIONS

Mean value of resistance G+G+Gg+G4+G5-

G =- o82
5
1. of galvanometer,
5
2. Mean value of figure of merit galvanometer, k =
k+k+K3tK*Ks
-)5.4Xamp/div.
RESULT
The resistance

Figure

PRECAUTIONS
of the galvanometer

of merit of the galvanometer, k

= 71-08
= .
0
ohm.
X)0
amp/div.

1 Draw the circuit diagram before making the connections.

2 While making the connections, keys K, and K, should be removed.

3. Insert key K, only after taking out a high resistance from resistance box R,
4. Clean the ends of the connecting wires with the sandpaper before making the

5. All the connections and keys should be tight.

sOURCES OF ERROR
1. The emf of the battery may change during the experiment.

2. Calibration of resistance in resistance boxes may not be correct.

3. Plugs in resistance boxes may not be tight and may have contact resistance.