PHYSICS

INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT

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 KENDRIYA
VIDALAYA NO.1,
SALT LAKE

TOPI
,
To Study C the Earth’s

Magnetic field using a ‘‘

Tangent galvanometer.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The completion of my project was
possible due to the cooperation and
combined efforts of several persons
and employment of their knowledge,
energy and time. Hence, I would like
to thank them for their kind
assistance in completion of this
project.
A deep sense of gratitude is
expressed to Dr.Sumanlata , our
Principal ,Mr. Sanjeev kr. Mishra ,
our P.G.T Physics Teacher and Mr.
Manoj Kumar Mahali , our Physics
Laboratory Attendant for their
valuable guidance without which this
project would not have been
possible.

Thankful to all.

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 T
angent galvanometer made by J. H. Bunnell Co. around 1890.
A tangent galvanometer is an early measuring instrument used for the
measurement of electric current. It works by using a compassneedle to
compare a magnetic field generated by the unknown current to the magnetic
field of the Earth. It gets its name from its operating principle, the tangent
law of magnetism, which states that the tangent of the angle a compass
needle makes is proportional to the ratio of the strengths of the two
perpendicular magnetic fields. It was first described by Claude Pouillet in
1837.
A tangent galvanometer consists of a coil of insulated copper wire wound on
a circular non-magnetic frame. The frame is mounted vertically on a
horizontal base provided with leveling screws. The coil can be rotated on a
vertical axis passing through its center. A compass box is mounted
horizontally at the center of a circular scale. It consists of a tiny, powerful
magnetic needle pivoted at the center of the coil. The magnetic needle is free
to rotate in the horizontal plane. The circular scale is divided into four
quadrants. Each quadrant is graduated from 0° to 90°. A long thin
alluminium pointer is attached to the needle at its center and at right angle
to it. To avoid errors due to parallax, a plane mirror is mounted below the
compass needle.
In operation, the instrument is first rotated until the magnetic field of the
Earth, indicated by the compass needle, is parallel with the plane of the coil.
Then the unknown current is applied to the coil. This creates a second
magnetic field on the axis of the coil, perpendicular to the Earth's magnetic
field. The compass needle responds to thevector sum of the two fields, and
deflects to an angle equal to the tangent of the ratio of the two fields. From
the angle read from the compass's scale, the current could be found from a
table. The current supply wires have to be wound in a small helix, like a pig's
tail, otherwise the field due to the wire will affect the compass needle and an
incorrect reading will be obtained.

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As Oersted showed in the 19th century, a magnetic field is produced
whenever a current flows through a wire. The magnitude and direction of
the field at points near the wire depends on the shape of the wire as well as
the amount of current flowing through the wire. One particularly useful
geometry that commonly occurs is a single circular loop of wire. The
magnetic field, B, at the center of such a loop is given by

μo N I
B= 2R

Where
o: the permeability of free space = 4π × 10-7 Ṫesla∙ m/A
N: the number of loops
I: the current (Amps)
r: the radius of the loop
The ❑→B is given by the right hand rule.
The term NI gives the total current around the loop since each loop
individually contributes a current I to the total current around the loop.
On the surface of the earth, the magnetic field at the center of such a current
loop is the resultant of two fields: that due to the current in the loop and that
due to the magnetic field from the earth as shown in the figure. By

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determining the direction of the resultant magnetic field we can, using
equation 2 and vector addition, determine the horizontal component of the
earth’s magnetic field.

Bc B r = Bc + Bc

Bc

The direction of the magnetic field can be determined at any point by

observing the direction of a compass needle at that point. Therefore by
placing a compass needle at the center of a circular wire loop we can
determine the direction of the magnetic field at that location. With no
current flowing the compass will be aligned with the direction of the
horizontal component of the earth’s magnetic field, Bc.

When the current is turned on, the compass needle will deflect through an
angle θ to realize itself with the new resultant field. The angle of deflection
will of course depend on the size of the magnetic field Bc caused by the
current in the wire loop. By measuring θ one can calculate Bc from the
equation.
Bc
Bc = Tanθ ¿
¿

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 EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
AIM:-
To Study the Earth’s Magnetic field using a Tangent Galvanometer.
SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT:-
 Tangent Galvanometer
 Ammeter
 Leads & connectors
 Reversing switch
 Ordinary Key
 Ruler
 Rheostat (20 Ω ) spirit level
 DC supply (6 V)
 Plywood board

Principle:-
When a bar magnet is suspended in two Magnetic fields B and Bc, it comes
to rest making an angle θ with the direction of Bc.

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 figure (1) figure (2)

From figure (1) B=Bc tanθ. This is known as tangent law of magnetism.

PURPOSE:-

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In this experiment we will measure the magnitude of the horizontal
component of the Earth's Magnetic field by the use of an instrument
called a tangent galvanometer.
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 (Bc) 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,
B=Bc tanθ …………………….(2)

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,

μo N I
B= 2R ………………………………….. (1)
Equating (1) and (2), we get,
μo N I
B c tanθ=¿ …(3)
2R …………………

2RBc I
=
μ oNI tanθ
……………….(4)

The left hand side of equation (4) is a constant and is called the reduction
factor (K) of the given tangent galvanometer.
I
K=
tanθ
…………………(5)

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Now from equation (3) & (5), the horizontal intensity of earth’s magnetic
field Bc is,
Bc =
μ oNK
2R
…………………..(6)

Applications:-
1. T.G can be used to measure the magnitude of the horizontal component of
the geomagnetic field.
2. The principle can be used to compare the galvanometer constants.

For performing in the real lab:-

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 Bc.

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The initial adjustments are done as follows:-

 The plane of the coil is made vertical by adjusting the levelling screws.

 The compass box alone is rotated so that the 90-90 line in the compass box is in
the plane of the coil.

 The T.G as a whole is rotated till the Aluminium pointer reads 0-0.

 Note down the number of turns in the coil.

 A suitable current is allowed to pass through the coil.

 Note down the current as well as the deflection in T.G.

 Reverse the current and note the deflection again.

 Repeat the procedure for different values of current.

 Measure the radius of the coil from its perimeter.

 Determine the reduction factor and horizontal intensity of earth's magnetic field.

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LABORATORY PROCEDURE:-

[CAUTION: Do not tilt the tangent galvanometer excessively, as the

glass plate may fall out and break.]
I. Make the current connections in accordance with the circuit
diagram.
II. Using the spirit level, level the base and the compass needle in
compass box of tangent galvanometer by adjusting the leveling
screw.
III. Now rotate the coil of the 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 alluminium pointer
should reads 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 marks.
IV. By closing the key K, the current flow in the galvanometer. Read the
both ends of pointer. Now reverse the direction of current by using
the reversing the reversing key. When the mean values of deflections
shown by pointer in the two cases (i.e. before and after reversing the
current) differ by more than 1°, then turn slightly the vertical coil
until the two values agree. This will set the plane of the coil exactly
in the magnetic meridian.
V. By adjusting the rheostat, bring the deflection in galvanometer
around 45° . The deflection should not be outside the range(30°-60° ).
VI. Record the reading of the ammeter and the deflection of the
compass needle in box shown by two ends of pointer on the scale.
VII. Reverse the current in coil of galvanometer and again record the
current and deflection of needle.
VIII. By changing the value of current, take four more set of readings and
plot the graph between I and tan θ. The graph will be straight line.
IX. Measure the inner and outer diameter of the coil with a half meter
scale at least three times.

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Observations & Calculations:-
Number of turns in the coil N=.................
Circumference of the coil,2 πR =................cm
Radius of the coil, R = ……….....cm

1. To determine the horizontal component of earth’s

magnetic field (Bc):-
The Horizontal component of earth's magnetic field (B h) can be calculated
using the formula,
μ oNK
Bc =
2R

2. To determine the reduction factor of T.G:-

Pointing deflecting in
degrees
Trial Ammeter I
Mean θ tanθ K= tan θ B
numbe reading direct reverse
{degree} {degree} {A} {T}
r I(A)
θ1 θ2 θ3 θ4

From graph:-
Reduction factor K of the tangent galvanometer can be detremined.

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From the graph drawn as,
AB
K=
AC

Result:-

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

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

Precautions:-
 The battery should be freshly charged.
 The magnetic needle should swing freely in the horizontal plane.
 The plane of coil must be set in magnetic meridian.
 There should no parallax in noting down the readings of ammeter and
deflection.
 All the readings should be adjusted between 30° and 60°.

Sources of Error:-
 There may magnetic material around the apparatus.

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  The plane of coil will not exactly in the magnetic meridian.

BIBLIOGRAPHY :-
This project is made with the help of following links

Websites :

 www.google.com
 www.yahoo.com
 www.wikipedia.org

Books :-

 Comprehensive Practical Manual for Physics.

 Pradeep’s New Course Physics.
 NCERT Physics.

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