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Josephs
Residential School,
Sriperumbudur, Chennai- 602 105
PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT
TANGENT GALVANOMETER
2017-18
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CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY
The references taken in making this project have been declared at the
end of this Report.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Sl. No. Contents Page no.
1. ACKNOWLEDMENT 04
2. OBJECTIVES 05
3. INTRODUCTION 06-08
5. EXPERIMENT 12-13
7. BIBLIOGRAPHY 16
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
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OBJECTIVES
To determine the reduction factor of the given tangent
galvanometer (K).
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INTRODUCTION
Earth's magnetic field, also known as the geomagnetic field, is the
magnetic field that extends from the Earth's interior to where it meets the
solar wind, a stream of charged particles emanating from the Sun. Its
magnitude at the Earth's surface ranges from 25 to 65 microtesla (0.25 to
0.65 gauss).Roughly speaking it is the field of a magnetic dipole
currently tilted at an angle of about 10 degrees with respect to Earth's
rotational axis, as if there were a bar magnet placed at that angle at the
center of the Earth. Unlike a bar magnet, however, Earth's magnetic field
changes over time because it is generated by a geodynamic (in Earth's
case, the motion of molten iron alloys in its outer core).
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self-sustaining magnetic field. The Earths steady magnetic field is
produced by many sources, both above and below the planets surface.
From the core outward, these include the geomagnetic dynamo, crustal
magnetization, the ionospheric dynamo, the ring current, the
magnetopause current, the tail current, field-aligned currents, and
auroral, or convective, electrojets. The geomagnetic dynamo is the most
important source because, without the field it creates, the other sources
would not exist. Not far above the Earths surface the effect of other
sources becomes as strong as or stronger than that of the geomagnetic
dynamo. The Earths magnetic field is subject to variation on all
timescales. Each of the major sources of the so-called steady field
undergoes changes that produce transient variations, or disturbances.
The main field has two major disturbances: quasiperiodic reversals
and secular variation. An entirely different type of magnetic variation is
caused by magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves. These waves are
sinusoidal variations in the electric and magnetic fields that are coupled
to changes in particle density. They are the means by which information
about changes in electric currents is transmitted, both within the Earths
core and in its surrounding environment of charged particles.
Earth's magnetic field serves to deflect most of the solar wind, whose
charged particles would otherwise strip away the ozone layer that
protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. One stripping
mechanism is for gas to be caught in bubbles of magnetic field, which
are ripped off by solar winds.
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The intensity
of the field is
often measured
in gauss (G), but
is generally reported in nanoteslas (nT), with 1 G = 100,000 nT. A
nanotesla is also referred to as a gamma ().The tesla is the SI unit of the
Magnetic field, B. The field ranges between approximately 25,000 and
65,000 nT (0.250.65 G).
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ABOUT THE TOPIC
Tangent Galvanometer:
Electric current is often measured using an
instrument called a tangent galvanometer. Able
to measure the presence as well as the direction
and power of currents, the instrument was first
used in the early 1800s. It typically has a vertical
copper wire coil, wrapped around a circular
frame, and a compass in the middle. The
compass needle generally responds to the
magnetic field of the electrical current, which is
compared to the Earths magnetic field in the experiment. This scientific
instrument has been built in many forms and more modern ones often
use beams of light to determine measurements, while some versions are
used to measure the magnetic field of the Earth
The instrument works based on the tangent law of magnetism. This
principle defines the tangent of the angle, traveled through by the
compass needle, as being proportionate to a ratio of how strong two
magnetic fields are. These fields are usually perpendicular to one
another. Currents measured are typically proportional to the tangent of
the same angle the needle goes through.
Circuit Diagram:
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When a bar magnet is suspended in two
magnetic fields B and Bh, it comes to
rest making an angle with the
direction of Bh.
B = Bh tan (1)
Let I be the current passing through the coil of radius a with n turns, then
the magnetic field generated by the current carrying coil is,
B = 0nI/2a (2) (a is the radius of the coil)
Equating (1) and (2), we get,
K = I/tan (5)
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Now from the equation (3) & (5), the horizontal intensity of Earths
magnetic field Bh is,
Bh = 0nK/2a (6)
Applications
Tangent Galvanometer 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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EXPERIMENT
Aim:
1. To determine the reduction factor of the given tangent
galvanometer (K).
2. To find out the horizontal component of earths magnetic field
(Bh).
Apparatus:
Tangent galvanometer (TG), commutator (C), rheostat (R), battery
(E), ammeter (A), key (k), connecting wires, meter scale etc.
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Procedure:
1. The circuit is made as shown in the diagram. The plane of the coil
is made vertical by adjusting the leveling screws. The plane of the
coil is made by adjusting the leveling screws. The plane of the coil
is made parallel to (90-90) in the compass box. The whole T.G is
rotated to read (0-0) at the ends of the aluminum pointer. Now the
plane of the coil is in the magnetic meridian.
2. The Commutator keys are put. The rheostat should be adjusted for
deflection in T.G between 10 and 60. For a current I, the
deflections of the pointer 1 & 2 are noted. The Commutator is
reversed. The deflections of the pointer 3 & 4 are noted. The
average of the four readings is the deflection . From the theory of
the T.G, I=K tan.
3. By varying the current the experiment is repeated. Using a string
the circumference of the coil is measured. Hence its radius r is
found. Let n be the number of turns of the coil. The horizontal
intensity at
the place is given
by, Bh = 0nK/2r
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OBSERVATION TABLES
Table 1: For variation of with I.
Deflection in T.G
Ammeter
SL.No Reading Mean K
(A) =I/tan
1 2 3 4
1 0.15 35 35 35 35 35 0.2142
Mean K = 0.19682
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TABLE 2: For radius of tangent galvanometer.
S.No. Inner Outer Mean Mean radius
diameter d1 diameter d2 diameter
(cm) (cm) d
1. 16.0 102 16.40 102 16.20 102 8.10 102
2. 16.16 102 16.08 102 16.12 102 8.06 102
3. 16.06 102 16.10 102 16.08 102 8.04 102
Mean radius of coil R= 8.04x102
= 2nK10-7/r = 7.686710-8 T
For different values of current I, deflections are noted and values are calculated.
Knowing K, n and r the value of horizontal intensity Bh can be calculated.
Graph:
From the graph,
tan
A C
Current I (A)
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Slope of the straight line = BC
G AC
m = tan ________(1)
s I
Now, substitute (1) in formula = 0 2N/4 RH
Then, H = 7.686710-5 T
Result:
1. The reduction factor of T.G, K = 0.19682 A
2. Horizontal Intensity at the place, Bh = 7.686710-5 T
Conclusion:
Experiment in tangent galvanometer gives the reduction factor of
galvanometer and horizontal intensity of Earths magnetic field.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Illustrative Oxford Book
http://en.wikipedia.org
Comprehensive Practical Physics
www.wisegeek.com
www.britannica.com
www.amrita.edu
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