EXP-> TO DETERMINE RESISTANCE OF GALVANOMETER BY HALF DEFLECTION METHOD AND

TO FIND ITS FIGURE OF MERIT.

MATERIAL REQUIRED: A moving coil galvanometer, a battery or a battery eliminator (0 - 6

V), one resistance box (R-BOX 1) of range 0-10kΩ, one resistance box(R-BOX 2) of
range 0-200Ω, 2 one way keys, voltmeter, connecting wires and a piece of sand paper.

Theory: Galvanometer is a sensitive device used to detect very low current. Its working
is based on the principle that a coil placed in a uniform magnetic field experiences a
torque when an electric current is set up in it. The deflection of the coil is determined by
a pointer attached to it, moving on the scale. When a coil carrying current I is placed in
a radial magnetic field, the coil experiences a deflection θ which is related to I
as
I=kθ
where k is a constant of proportionality and is termed as figure of merit of the
galvanometer.
Procedure:
1. Clean the connecting wires with sand paper and make neat and tight connections as per the circuit
diagram

2. From the high resistance box (R-BOX 1) (1-10 kΩ), remove 5 kΩ key and then close the key K1. Adjust
the resistance R from this resistance box to get full scale deflection on the galvanometer dial. Record the
values of resistance, R and deflection θ.

3. Insert the key K2 and keep R fixed. Adjust the value of shunt resistance S to get the deflection in the
galvanometer which is exactly half of θ. Note down S. Remove plug K2 after noting down the value of
shunt resistance, S.

4. Take five sets of observations by repeating steps 2 and 3 so that θ is even number of divisions and
record the observations for R, S, θ and 2 in tabular form.

5. Calculate the galvanometer resistance G and figure of merit k of

galvanometer using Equations.

Conversion of Galvanometer to Ammeter

Our Objective:
To convert the given galvanometer (of known resistance and figure of merit) into an ammeter of desired range
and to verify the same.

The Theory:

What is a Galvanometer?

A galvanometer is a device used to detect feeble electric currents in a circuit. It has a coil pivoted (or
suspended) between concave pole faces of a strong laminated horse shoe magnet. When an electric current
passes through the coil, it deflects. The deflection is proportional to the current passed. The galvanometer coil
has a moderate resistance (about 100 ohms) and the galvanometer itself has a small current carrying capacity
(1 mA).

What is an Ammeter?

An ammeter is a device used for measuring large electric currents in circuits. For this purpose, it is put in
series with the circuit in which the current is to be measured.

How to convert a Galvanometer into an Ammeter?

A galvanometer can detect only small currents. Thus, to measure large currents it is converted into an
ammeter. It can be converted into an ammeter by connecting a low resistance called shunt resistance in
parallel to the galvanometer.

Let G be the resistance of the galvanometer and Ig be the current for full scale deflection in the galvanometer,
the value of the shunt resistance required to convert the galvanometer into an ammeter of 0 to I ampere is,

Ig is calculated using the equation, Ig = nk, where n is the number of divisions on the galvanometer and k is the
figure of merit of galvanometer.

What is figure of merit of a galvanometer?

The figure of merit of a galvanometer is defined as the current required in producing a unit deflection in the
scale of the galvanometer. It is represented by the symbol k and is given by the equation,

Where E is the e.m.f. of the cell and θ is the deflection produced with resistance R.

Let ‘l’ be the length of the resistance wire required for a resistance of S ohm,

where, r is the radius of the wire and ρ is the resistivity of the material of the wire.

Materials required:
  Galvanometer
 Cell

 Rheostat

 Ammeter of desired range

 Resistance wire

 Key

 Screw gauge

Real Lab Procedure:

 The shunt resistance required to convert the galvanometer into ammeter of range I is calculated using
the formula,

G- the resistance of the galvanometer.

I- the range of desired ammeter
Ig = nk, the current required for full scale deflection in the galvanometer,
where, n- total number of divisions in the galvanometer
k- the figure of merit of the galvanometer.
Then, the length of the wire required for shunt can be calculated using the formula,

Where, ρ- the resistivity of material of the wire

r- the radius of the wire, which can be measured using a screw gauge.

 Cut the resistance wire at a length of (l+2) cm.

 Make two marks near the ends of the wire so that the distance between the marks is exactly l cm.

 The wire is now connected to the terminals of the galvanometer so that the marks are just outside the
terminals of the galvanometer.

 The galvanometer with the shunt connected across its terminals is the converted ammeter of the
desired range.

 Connections are made as shown in the circuit diagram.

  The galvanometer with shunt resistance is connected in series to a battery through an ammeter, key
and rheostat.
 Insert the key.

 Adjust the rheostat and set the current reading I of the given ammeter at a particular value.

 The reading of the galvanometer Ig’ is noted. Now, the current through the converted ammeter is
calculated using the relation,

 The error of the converted ammeter is calculated as I – I’.

 Repeat the experiment by changing the rheostat resistance.

 A graph can be drawn with (I – I’) along Y-axis and I’ along X-axis. This is called the correction graph.

 Thus, the converted ammeter is verified with an ammeter of the same range and a correction graph is
obtained.

Observations:

Resistance of the galvanometer, G = ........54.5....ohms

Figure of merit of the galvanometer, k = ...........3.27x10-5.... amp./div.

Galvanometer Standard ammeter

S. No. Ammeter I in amps reading in amp
reading (Ig')
1 .5 5 .5
2 1 10 1
3 1.5 15 1.5

Result:

The given galvanometer is converted into an ammeter of range 0 to …5……….A by connecting a shunt
resistance of ………2…ohms.