PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY

PROJECT
EARTH MAGNETIC FIELDS MAGNETIC FIELD USING
TANGENT
GALVANOMETER

Prepared by:

Roll No:

PHYSICS
INVESTIGATORY
REPORT
EARTH MAGNETIC FIELD
Although historically ancient travelers made abundant use of the earths
magnetic field for the exploration of the earth, they were ignorant of its
origin. In many respects the earths 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 earths magnetic field in the
vicinity of Wilmington, North Carolina.

A tangent galvanometer
is an early measuring
instrument used for the
measurement of electric
current. It works by using
a compass needle 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.Who
later employed this
sensitive form of
galvanometer to verify
Ohms law.

JNV LEPAKSHI XII-

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. S.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.

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 earths 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

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 Ohms 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 Earths magnetic field is B. the compass needle aligns itself along the vector sum of B
and B after rotating through an angle from its original orientation. The vector diagram shows that tan
= 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 Earths magnetic field (BH).
o To determine the reduction factor of the given tangent galvanometer (K).
o To find out the horizontal component of earths magnetic field (Bh).

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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

Battery Eliminator

a) Rotor view

Rheostat

Plug Key

b) Ordinary view

When a bar magnet is suspended in two Magnetic fields B and Bh, it comes to rest making an angle
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 earths 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 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,

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 earths 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 earths magnetic field Bh .

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.

TO DETERMINE THE HORIZONTAL COMPONENT OF EARTHS 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

0.15

56

56

60

60

58

1.6003

0.13

0.18

62

62

66

66

64

2.0503

0.18

0.22

67

67

71

71

69

2.6059

0.22

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 earths 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 earths magnetic field is3.5x10 T

For better result while doing tangent galvanometer experiment, the deflection should
be in between 30-60

What is the value of ? 4x10 NA

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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