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A Project Report On
“ Tangent galvanometer”
Submitted by:
Arnav makkar Under the Guidance of
th
Class – 12 (C) Mr. BHAGWAN SINGH
Contents
1.Certificate
2.Acknowledgement
3.AIM
4.Introduction
5.Theory
6.Procedure
7.Bibliography
Oxford Public School
Certificate
This is to certify that ARNAV MAKKAR, a
bonafide student of class 12th (C) has
satisfactorily completed his investigatory
project titled as “ Tangent galvanometer” as
prescribed by the Central Board of
Secondary Education (CBSE) during the
academic year 2024-2025.
Mr. BHAGWAN SINGH Ms.SANGEETA MATTO

. (PHYSICS) (Principal)
Acknowledgement
I would like to express a deep sense of thanks
and gratitude my project guide
Mr.BHAGAWAN SINGH sir for guiding me
immensely through the course of the project. He
always envinced keen intrest in my project. His
constructive advice & constant motivation have
been responsible for the successful completion of
his project.
My sincere thank goes to our principal sir for
his co-ordination in extending every possible
support for the completion of this project.
I must thanks to my classmates for their timely
help and support for completion of this project.
Last but not the least, I would like to thank all
those who had helped directly or indirectly
towards the completion of this project.
.
ARNAV MAKKAR
Class- XIIth (C)
AIM
The aim of the project is to study the Earth’s magnetic field
and find its value (BH) using a tangent galvanometer.
Tangent galvanometer
Top view of a Tangent galvanometer

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 microteslas (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).
The North and South magnetic poles wander widely,
but sufficiently slowly for ordinary compasses to
remain useful for navigation. However, at regular
intervals have raging several thousand years. The
earth's field reverses than North and South magnetic
poles relatively abruptly switching places these
reversals of geomagnetic poles leave a record in
rocks that are of value to paleomagnetists in
calculating geomatic fields in the past.
The Magneto sphere is the region above the ionosphere

and extends several tens of thousands of kilometers into
space. 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 the
harmful UV radiation.
Near the surface of the earth, its magnetic field can be
closely approximated by the field of a magnetic dipole
positioned at the centre of the earth and tilted at an angle
of about 10 degrees with respect to the rotational axis of
the earth. The dipole is roughly equivalent to a powerful
bar magnet, when its South pole pointing towards the
geomagnetic North pole.
The north pole of a magnet is so defined because if
allowed to rotate freely, it points roughly northwards( in the
geographic sense). Since the north pole of a magnet
attracts the south pole of other magnets and repels the
north poles it must be attracted to south pole.
TANGENT GALVANOMETER
Principle/Theory
The tangent galvanometer works on the principle of
tangent law.
Tangent law of magnetism
 The tangent law of magnetism states that the tangent
of the angle of the compass needle which is due to
the movement under the influence of magnetic field is
directly proportional the ratio of strengths of two
perpendicular magnetic fields.
 In simpler words, the tangent of the angle made by
the moving needle under the magnetic field directly
indicate the strength of the perpendicular magnetic
fields.
Definition
 Tangent galvanometer is a device which was used to
measure small amounts of electric current.
Construction
 It consists of a coil of insulated copper wire wound on
a circular non-magnetic frame.
 It is utmost necessary that the coil wound is done in
helical arrangement otherwise, the field due to the
wire will affect the compass needle, thus inducing an
error in the reading.
 This frame is mounted vertically on a horizontal base
for support.
 The coil of insulated copper wire is usually rotated on
a vertical Axis passing through it centre.
 A small sized magnetic compass with a powerful
magnetic needle is made to pivot at the centre of this
coil, such that it is free to rotate in a horizontal plane.
 The circular scale is used to read the movement of
this magnetic needle which is divided into four
quadrants, each ranging from 0° to 90°.
 A pointer is attached to this needle at right angles,
usually made up of thin aluminium as aluminium is
lighter in mass.
 The usual way of discarding possibilities of parallax is
also used i.e. placing of a plane mirror below the
compass needle.
Working
 The working of tangent galvanometer is based on the
principle of tangent law of magnetism.
 The instrument needle starts moving firstly under the
influence of Earth's magnetic field.
 Movement continues until the magnetic field of the
Earth is parallel with the plane of coil.
 Then, on application of an unknown current, a second
magnetic field on the axis of the coil which is
perpendicular to the Earth’s magnetic field is created.
 Hence the compass needle responds to the vector
sum of the two fields.
 This deflection angle is equal to tangent of the ratio of
those two fields.
Application
1. T.G. can be used to measure the magnitude of the
horizontal component of the geomagnetic field.
2. The principle can be used to compare the
galvanometer constants.
3. For calibration of secondary instruments.
Apparatus and materials required
 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 frame. Its working is based on the principle
of tangent law of magnetism. When a current is pass
through the circular coil, a magnetic field (B) is
produced at the centre of the coil in a direction
perpendicular to the plane of the coil. Tangent law 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,
Eq 1:F = H tanθ
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.
Let a current I be passed through the coil of radius R,
having turns N. Then magnetic field produced at the centre
of coil is,
Eq 2: F=μ0 2πIN /4πR
Let H is the horizontal component of Earth’s magnetic field
and the magnetic needle comes to rest at angle θ with the
direction of H, then according Eq.(1),
𝐻 𝑡 𝑎 𝑛 𝜃 =μ0 2πIN
= 10−7 2πIN/
Eq 3 : = 2π×10−7IN
by substituting the value of current I, from

eq. (3),
Eq 4: = 02
4𝜋 RH
radius of coil of galvanometer R, deflection 𝜃 and N, the value of H
can be calculated.
PROCEDURE
Connections are made as shown the figure given below,
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. Taking the average of the resulting two
readings for deflection averages out , any small error in
positioning the T.G coil relative to the Earth’s magnetic
field H.
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
PROCEDURE FOR PERFORMING THE EXPERIMENT

1. Make the circuit connections in accordance with the
circuit diagram.
2. Using spirit level, level the base and the compass
needle in compass box of tangent galvanometer by
adjusting the levelling screw.
3. Now rotate the coil of the galvanometer about its
vertical axis, till the magnetic needle, its image in the
plane mirror fixed at the base of the compass box and
the coil i.e. all these three lie in the same vertical
plane.
4. In this setting, the ends of the aluminium pointer
should read 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
marks.
5. By closing the key K, the current flow in the
galvanometer. Read the both ends of the pointer. Now
reverse the direction of current by using the reversing
key. When the mean values of both deflections shown
by the pointer in the two cases (i.e. before and after
reversing the current ) differ by more than 1°, then
turn slightly the vertical coil until the two values agree.
This will set the plane of the coil exactly in the
magnetic meridian.
6. By adjusting the rheostat , bring the deflection in
galvanometer around 45°. The deflection should not
be outside the range (30°-60°).
7. Record the reading of the ammeter and the reflection
of the compass needle in the box shown by two ends
of pointer on the scale.
8. Reverse the current in the coil of galvanometer and
again record the current and deflection of needle.
9. By changing the value of current, take four or more
set of readings and plot the graph I and tanθ. The
graph will be a straight line.
10. Measure the inner and the outer diameter of the
coil with a half metre scale at least three times.
Bibliography
 Class 12 NCERT Textbook

 Laboratory Manual Physics, Class XII
 Pradeep’s Simplified Physics
 Name of publication: Arya Publications
Hyperlink To The Images:
WWW.CBSEACADEMIC.NIC.IN
Thank You!!
-ARNAV MAKKAR

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A Project Report On

Mr. BHAGWAN SINGH Ms.SANGEETA MATTO

Top view of a Tangent galvanometer

The Magneto sphere is the region above the ionosphere

Tangent galvanometer is an early measuring

by substituting the value of current I, from

PROCEDURE FOR PERFORMING THE EXPERIMENT

 Class 12 NCERT Textbook

Hyperlink To The Images:

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