Moving Coil Galvanometer

 Moving Coil Galvanometer:-
 Introduction:-
A galvanometer is an electromechanical instrument for detecting and indicating electric

current. A galvanometer works as an actuator, by producing a rotary deflection (of a
"pointer"), in response to electric current flowing through a coil in a constant magnetic field.
Galvanometers developed from the observation that the needle of a magnetic compass is
deflected near a wire that has electric current flowing through it, first described by Hans
Oersted in 1820. They were the first instruments used to detect and measure small amounts
of electric currents. Sensitive galvanometers have been essential for the development of
science and technology in many fields. Galvanometers also had widespread use as the
visualising part in other kinds of analog meters, for example in light meters, VU meters, etc.,
where they were used to measure and display the output of other sensors.
 Principle:-
When a current carrying coil is suspended in a uniform magnetic field it is acted upon by a
torque. Under the action of this torque, the coil rotates and the deflection in the coil in a
moving coil galvanometer is directly proportional to the current flowing through the coil.
 Construction:-
It consists of a rectangular coil of thin insulated copper

wires having a large number of turns. The horseshoe
magnet has cylindrically concave pole-pieces. Due to
this shape, the magnet produces radial magnetic field
so that when coil rotates in any position its plane is
always parallel to the direction of magnetic field.
When current flows through the coil it gets deflected.
A soft iron cylinder is fixed inside the coil such that the
coil can rotate freely between the poles and around
the cylinder. Due to the high permittivity, the soft iron
core increases the strength of the radial magnetic
field.
Schematic Diagram of a Moving Coil Galvanometer
MovingCoilGalvanometer-PhysicsProject Page 12
 Working:-
When a current flows through the coil, a torque acts on it. This torque is given by the equation
𝜏 = 𝑁𝑖𝐴𝐵 where the symbols have their usual meaning. Since the field is radial by design, we
have taken sin 𝜃 = 1 in the above expression for the torque. The magnetic torque 𝜏 = 𝑁𝑖𝐴𝐵
tends to rotate the coil. A spring Sp provides a counter torque 𝜏 = 𝐾𝜑 that balances the
magnetic torque 𝜏 = 𝑁𝑖𝐴𝐵; resulting in a steady angular deflection 𝜑.
In equilibrium, 𝐾𝜑 = 𝑁𝑖𝐴𝐵 where 𝐾 is the torsional constant of the spring; i.e. the restoring
torque per unit twist. The deflection 𝜑 is indicated on the scale by a pointer attached to the
𝑁𝐴𝐵
spring. We have 𝜑 = 𝐾 𝑖.
The quantity given in brackets is a constant for the galvanometer. Hence, Galvanometer
Constant G can be expressed as:-
𝑁𝐴𝐵
𝐺 =
𝐾
∴ 𝜑 = 𝐺𝑖
∴𝑖 ∝ 𝜑
So, the current through the coil varies linearly with the deflection and so, the current flowing
through the coil can be known by measuring the deflection.
The galvanometer can be used as a detector to check if a current is flowing in the circuit (this
configuration is used in the Wheatstone’s bridge arrangement). In this usage the neutral
position of the pointer (when no current is flowing through the galvanometer) is in the middle
of the scale and not at the left end. Depending on the direction of the current, the pointer
deflection is either to the right or the left.
Quick Fact: Greek scientist, Archimedes was the first person to have made use of magnets. The
story goes that he enabled enemy ships to sink by using lodestone to pull out the iron nails used
in the ship's body.
 Current Sensitivity of Galvanometer:-
The current sensitivity of a galvanometer is defined as the deflection produced when unit
current passes through the galvanometer. A galvanometer is said to be sensitive if it produces
large deflection for a small current.
𝜑 𝑁𝐵𝐴
∴ 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑆𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝑖 𝐾
 Factors increasing Current Sensitivity:-
 Increasing the magnetic field B by using strong permanent horse shoe shaped
magnet.
 Increasing the number of turns N. But number of turns of the coil cannot be
increased beyond a certain limit. This is because the resistance of the
galvanometer will increase subsequently and hence the galvanometer becomes
less sensitivity.
 Increasing the area of the coil A. But it will make the galvanometer bulky and
ultimately less sensitive.
 Decreasing the value of restoring force constant k by using a flat strip of phosphor
– bronze instead of circular wire of phosphor – bronze. Quartz fibers can also be
used for suspension of the coil because they have large tensile strength and very
low value of K.
 Voltage Sensitivity of Galvanometer:-
The voltage sensitivity of a galvanometer is defined as the deflection per unit voltage.
∴ 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑆𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝜑 = 𝜑 = 𝑁𝐵𝐴 where G = Galvanometer Resistance

𝑉 𝐼𝐺 𝐾𝐺
 An interesting point to note is that, increasing the current sensitivity does not
necessarily, increase the voltage sensitivity. When the number of turns (n) is doubled,
current sensitivity is also doubled (equation 1). But increasing the number of turns
correspondingly increases the resistance (G). Hence voltage sensitivity remains
unchanged.
 Factors increasing Voltage Sensitivity:-
 Increasing number of turns of the coil (N)
 Increasing magnetic field intensity (B)
 Increasing area of the coil (A)
 Decreasing restoring torque per unit twist of the suspension (k)
 Decreasing resistance (G)
 Advantages of a Moving Coil Galvanometer:-

 The sensitivity of the galvanometer can be increased by increasing N, B and A while
decreasing the value of k.
 The instrument has a linear scale.
 Since the instrument uses high value of B, the deflection is undisturbed by the earth’s
magnetic field.
 As the coil is wound on a nonmagnetic metallic frame, damping is produced by eddy
currents. As a result the coil quickly assumes the final position.
 Conversion of a Galvanometer to an
Ammeter and a Voltmeter:-
 Conversion of a Galvanometer into an Ammeter:-
The galvanometer cannot as such be used as an ammeter to measure the value of the current
in a given circuit. This is for two reasons: (i) Galvanometer is a very sensitive device, it gives a
full-scale deflection for a current of the order of µA. (ii) For measuring currents, the
galvanometer has to be connected in series, and as it has a large resistance, this will change
the value of the current in the circuit. To overcome these difficulties, one attaches a small
resistance S, called shunt resistance, in parallel with the galvanometer coil; so that most of the
current passes through the shunt.
The value of shunt resistance depends on the fraction of

the total current required to be passed through the
galvanometer. Let Ig be the maximum current that can be
passed through the galvanometer. The current Ig will give
full scale deflection in the galvanometer.
Galvanometer Resistance = G
Shunt Resistance = S
Current in the circuit = I
∴ 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝐼𝑠 = 𝐼 − 𝐼𝑔
Since the galvanometer and the shunt resistance are connected in parallel, the potential
difference across both of them is same.
∴ 𝐼𝑔 . 𝐺 = 𝐼 − 𝐼𝑔 . 𝑆
𝐼𝑔
∴ 𝑆 = 𝐺.
𝐼 − 𝐼𝑔
The shunt resistance is very small because Ig is only a fraction of I.

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What is a galvanometer and how does it work?

What factors affect the current sensitivity of a galvanometer?

 Moving Coil Galvanometer:-

A galvanometer is an electromechanical instrument for detecting and indicating electric

It consists of a rectangular coil of thin insulated copper

∴ 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑆𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝜑 = 𝜑 = 𝑁𝐵𝐴 where G = Galvanometer Resistance

 Advantages of a Moving Coil Galvanometer:-

The value of shunt resistance depends on the fraction of

∴ 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝐼𝑠 = 𝐼 − 𝐼𝑔

The shunt resistance is very small because Ig is only a fraction of I.

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