PHYSICS

INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT
PHYSICS PROJECT ON:-

TAN
GEN
T
GAL
2016-17
VAN:
NAME

OM
CLASS
ROLL NO
:XII
:

ETE :
SCHOOL

R
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that ___________ of
class XII-A has completed the physics
project entitled: ‘Study on Earth’s
Magnetic Field Using a Tangent
Galvanometer, himself and under
the guidance of Mr/s.___________.
All the work related to the thesis had
been done by the candidate himself.
The approach was sincere and
scientific.

Mr/s. __________ Examiner

(Subject teacher)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am grateful to the Almighty to give
me strength to successfully complete
my project.

This project wouldn’t have been

feasible without the proper and
rigorous guidance of my Physics
teacher Mr/s.__________, who guided
me throughout this project in every
possible way.

I am deeply indebted to my school for

providing the best of facilities and
environment to bring out our
innovation and spirit of inquiry
through this venture. This report is
being submitted as a part of practical
examination conducted as per the
guidelines issued by CBSE.
 INDEX

SL.N TOPIC PAGE NO.

O
1. Introduction
2. Aim
3. Apparatus
4. Theory
5. Procedure
6. Observations
7. Calculations
8. Results
9. Precautions
10. Sources of Error
11. Bibliography
INTRODUCTION
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.
AIM
To study the earth’s magnetic
field using a Tangent
Galvanometer.
APPARATUS
 Tangent galvanometer (TG),
 Rheostat (R),
 Battery (E),
 Ammeter (A),
 Key (k)
 Reversing key
 Connecting wires
 Meter scale

PRINCIPLE
The working of the tangent Galvanometer
is based on the tangent law.
When a bar magnet is suspended in two
Magnetic fields B and Bh, it comes to rest
making an angle θ with the direction of
Bh.
DIAGRAM
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.
STATEMENT: When a magnet is
suspended freely in two mutually
perpendicular uniform magnetic fields F
and B , the magnet comes to rest
H

making an angle θ with the direction H

such that
F= BH
tan θ
Let a current I be passed through the coil
of radius R, having turns N. Then
magnetic field produced at the centre of
the coil is
μ 2 πIN
F= 4π R
Let B is the horizontal component of
H

earth’s magnetic field and the magnetic

needle comes to rest at an angle θ with
the direction of BH then Eq. (1) and (2)
μ 2 πIN
BH tan θ
= 4π R

2 πIN
BH tan θ
= 10−7
R

2 πIN
10−7
BH
= R tan θ

By substituting the value of current I,

from Eq. (3)
tan θ μo 2 πN
I = 4 π RH

μo Nk
BH
= 2R

I
K= tan θ
radius of coil of galvanometer R,
deflection θ and N, the value of H can be
calculated.

PROCEDURE
 For performing in real life
Connections are made as shown in the
figure, 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.
 The magnetic field can be
calculated as follows:
1. Make the circuit connections in
accordance with the circuit diagram.

2. Using a spirit level, level the base

and compass needle in compass box
of tangent galvanometer by
adjusting the leveling screw.

3. Now rotate the coil of the

galvanometer about its vertical axis,
till the magnetic needle, its image in
the plane of the 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 aluminum pointer should
read 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 mark.
4. Note the number of turns in the coil.
5. A suitable amount of current is
passed through the coil.
6. Note down the current as well as the
deflection in the TG.
7. Reverse the current and note the
deflection again.
8. Repeat for different values of
current.
9. Measure the radius of coil from
perimeter.
10. By changing the value of current,
take four or more set of reading and
plot the graph between I and tan.
The graph will be a straight line.
11. Determine the reduction factor and
the horizontal intensity of Earth’s
magnetic field.
OBSERVATIONS
Number of turns in the coil = 300
Outer radius of the coil =16 cm
Inner radius of the coil =14 cm
Radius of the coil = 15 cm
Table for Variation of  with I.
S. Ammeter Value of μ . nK
BH=
2. a
N Reading deflection,  Mea Tan
o. (A) n 
For For  B h × 107
direct revers
current e
curren
t
Observ Corre 1 2 3 4
ed cted
1. 0.5 0.5 10 10 10 10 10 0.17 3.5630
63
2. 1 1 25 25 25 25 25 0.46 2.690
63
3. 1.5 1.5 35 35 35 35 35 0.70 2.637
02
4. 2 2 45 45 45 45 45 1.00 2.510
0
OBSERVATIONS
Number of turns in the coil = ____
Outer radius of the coil = ___ cm
Inner radius of the coil = ___ cm
Radius of the coil = ___ cm
Table for Variation of  with I.
S. Ammeter Value of μ . nK
BH=
2. a
N Reading deflection,  Mea Tan
o. (A) n 
For For  B h × 107
direct revers
current e
curren
t
Observ Corre 1 2 3 4
ed cted
1.
2.
3.
4.
CALCULATIONS
Horizontal intensity of Earth’s magnetic
field,
μ.n. K
Bh
is, B h=
2. a
Reduction factor K can be determined from
AB
the graph as, K= BC

RESULT
Reduction factor of the given Tangent
Galvanometer,
K=2.448 A
Horizontal component of Earth’s magnetic
field,
Bh
= 2.8 ×10−7 T
RESULT
Reduction factor of the given Tangent
Galvanometer,
K= ______ A
Horizontal component of Earth’s magnetic
field,
¿¿
Bh
= _____ ×10¿ T
PRECAUTIONS
1. The battery should be freshly charged.
2. The magnetic needle should swing freely
in the horizontal plane.
3. The plane of coil must be set in magnetic
meridian.
4. All the readings must be adjusted between
30o and 600.
5. There should be no parallax in noting
down the reading of ammeter and defletion.

SOURCES OF ERROR
1. There may be a magnetic material around
the apparatus.
2. The plane of the coil will not be exactly in
the magnetic meridian.
BIBLIOGRAPHY

 NCERT Physics Text Book for Class

XII
 Comprehensive Physics Practical
Book
 www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanome
ter
 www.icbse.com
 www.cbse.nic.in