VELAMMAL VIDYALAYA

PHYSICS PROJECT

Study the earth’s

magnetic field using a
tangent galvanometer

By –Anshika S
REGD NO.
 VELAMMAL EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Velammal Vidyalaya, Mel Ayanambakkam
Name: Batch no:
Class: Reg no.:

CERTIFICATE
Certified that this a bonafide report of project work done by
MOKSHA.V ………………………………………………………………………..in
……………………………..during the year 2019………………………….

Teacher-in-charge
Submitted for the practical examination in………………………………..
at……………………………..held on…………………

Internal Examiner External Examiner

School Seal
Acknowledgement:
I am grateful to almighty for giving me the strength to complete my
project successfully with sustained efforts which many a times did
oscillate.

I am deeply indebted to ………………………………………………without whose

constructive feedback this project would not have been a success. The
valuable advice and suggestions for the correction, modification and
improvement did enhance the quality of the task.

I am obliged to our principal……………………………………………….for

providing the best facilities and environment to bring out innovative
and spirit of inquiry through this venture.

I am grateful to my parents in the completion of this task.

Last but not the least, I thank all my friends and batch mates without
their prompt support, my efforts would have gone in vain.
OVERVIEW
The tangent galvanometer was first described in 1837 by
Claude Servais Mathias Pouillet ,who later employed this
sensitive form of galvanometer to verify Ohm’s 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 Earth’s
magnetic field is B’. The compass needle itself along the vector
sum of B and B’ after rotating through an angle Ø from its
original orientation. The vector diagram shows that tan Ø=B/B’.
Since the magnetic field of the earth is constant, and B depends
directly on the current, the current is proportional to the
tangent of the angle through which the needle has turned.
AIM OF THE PROJECT
The aim of the project is to study the Earth’s magnetic field and
find its value using a tangent galvanometer.
 APPARATUS
 Tangent galvanometer (TG)
 Commutator (C)
 Rheostat (R)
 Battery (E)
 Ammeter (A)
 Key (K)
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 flame. 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 working of the tangent galvanometer is based on the
tangent law. It is stated as when a magnet is suspended freely
in magnetic field F and H, the magnet comes to rest making an
angle θ with the direction H such that,
F = H tanθ …(1)

Let a current I be passed through the coil of radius R, having N

turns. Then magnetic field produced at the center of the coil is
F= µ0 2πIN
4π