9.13.
MOVING COIL GALVANOMETER
A moving coil galvanometer is a sensitive instrumnent used for detecting small current in a
circuit.
The instrument is so named because it uses a current-carrying coil that rotates (or moves)n
a magnetic field on account of the torque acting on it. Moving coil galvanometers are of two types
viz su_pended-coil galvanometer and pivoted-coil (or Weston) galvanometer. The principle nd
working of the two types of galvanometers are the same; only there is some difference in thet
constructions.
Principle. Its operation is based on the principle that when a current carrying coil is placed
in a uniform magnetic field, the coil experiences a torque.
Construction. Fig. 9.22 shows the basic parts of a moving coil galvanometer (suspension
insulated
type). It consists of a rectangular coil PORS having a large number of turns of
in Electric and Magnetic Fields
Particles
Charged 503
an aluminium former inside
M o
of
t i o n
is wound on coil which is a soft iron cylinder C, the
The
rotate without touching the
it is
wire. free to that cylinder. The coil is suspended by
wire Win a strong magnetic field; the field is
placed
set up by attaching soft-
c o p p e r
sO bronze
coili s magnet. The combination of curved pole
p h o s p h o r
of a to the poles of a powerful pieces and
means
a *radial magnetic field in the air gap [See Fig. 9.23]. The current is led
pieces
curved p r o d u c e s
the suspensions at X and Y. The deflection of the coil is
coil PORS through
jron
iron
soft o f the
the
of light reflected
out by the mirror M (attached to the suspension wire) to a
and scale
The motion of the coil is controlled by the **spring S i.e.,
beam
into
by a instrument.
this spring
shown
the of
front controlling torque.
in the
provides
Deflected
coil
S N S
N
S R B
Fixed core
Fig. 9.22 Fig. 9.23
experiences a
Working, When current to be detected is passed through the coil, the coil
begins to turn. As the coil turns,
torgue. Under the influence of this deflecting torque (T), the coil
directed torque (called restor
the phosphor bronze wire gets twisted. This results in an oppositely
the angle Othrough which the wire
ing torque T). The restoring torque is directly proportional to
is twisted i.e. I, = k
constant of the suspension.
where k is a constant of proportionality and is known as torsion
Its unit is Nm per degree.
deflecting torque. In other
The coil turns until the restoring torque becomes equal to the
words, in the equilibrium position of the coil, 7, = I
Theory. Let n = number of turns in the coil
A =area of the coil (= lx b)
I = current through the coil
B = strength of the magnetic field
Since the field of the coil is always parallel to the field (i.e. 0 = 0).
is radial, the plane
herefore, the coil experiences a constant deflecting torque given by ;
...() (:: cos 0 = 1)
Deflecting torque, T, = n IA B
If in the equilibrium position the coil deflects through an angle 0, then,
...(ii)
Restoring torque, T, = k
to the field i.e., 0= 0):
Since the m of the coil will always be parallel
regardless magnetic field is radial, the plane constant torque.
experiences a maximum and
The spring ofserves
the orientation
three purposes
of the coil.
viz. Hence,
(i) it the coil
provides the passage of current through rectangular coil,
(ii) it keeps restoring torque on the twisted coil.
the coil in Position and (iii) it produces the
504 Principles of
ln the inal detlccted position of the coil,
or n lA B = k 0
k0
|= nAB
|= G0
where G= = aconstant for a galvanometer
nAR
Hence, the deflection of the coil is directly proportional to the current through it.
scale. This is an important As
the moving coil galvanometer has a linear advantage are
instrument can be accurately calibrated. becaue
9.14. SENSITIVITY OF MOVING COIL GALVANOMETEP
A galvanometer is said to be sensitive if a small current passed through it
deflection. As we shall see, a galvanometer can be converted into an ammeter or produces aia
Accordingly, it has two types of sensitivity viz., voltmee
1. Current sensitivity 2. Voltage sensitivity
1. Current sensitivity. It is defined as the deflection produced in the galvanometer
unit current flows through it. whe
If the deflection produced in the galvanometer is when current Iis passed through
_nBA
Current sensitivity, S, = = (: l=
nB
The unit of current sensitivity is rad A or div. A.
2. Voltage sensitivity. It is defined as the deflection produced in the galvanometer we
unit potential difference is applied across the two terminals of the galvanometer.
If the deflection produced in the galvanometer is Owhen a potential difference Vis ami
across its two terminals, then,
Voltage sensitivity, S, =
If Ris the resistance of the galvanometer, then, V= IR.
nBA
S, = (:: l=
IR kR nBA
The unit of voltage sensitivity is rad V-l or div. Vl.
Increasing sensitivity of galvanometer. We have seen that :
nBA n BA
Current sensitivity, S, = : Voltage sensitivity, S, =
k kR
The current sensitivity of a galvanometer can be increased by :
() Increasing the number of turns nin the coil
(ii) Increasing the strength of magnetic field B
(iüi) Increasing the area A of the cojl
(iv) Decreasing torsion constant k of the spring
logethkr
The high voltage sensitivity requires the same features as the high current sensitivity.
with low coil resistance (R).
Limitations of increasing sensitivity. The current or voltage sensitivity of agaalvanomki
eannot be increased to any extent. It is due to the following reasons
Magnetic Fields
Electric and
in 505
Charged
Particles
resistance
of the galvanometer increases sufficiently
large,
to decrease the as well as
of
m a d
becomes
e
very
bulky. This tends sensitivity. For these reasons, the
wwn
is should
be used.
of n
Ifn
) coil
value of A(area of coil) because it
limit to the must not be so large
v a l u e
the
optimum
an
upper
becomes bulky. Further, a coil of large area swings about its
equilib-
isinstrument
These
long
time.
the foor a Further. if
that position
k means weak suspension. the value of kis too small,
of the
rium
small
value
about its equilibrium position for along time.
The Swing
would
sensitivity
(current or voltage) of a galvanometer can be increased by
coil the possible. This is achieved by using a
T h e r e f o r e ,
field Bas large as narrow air gap
magnet (typically B= 0.5T). The additional advantage of high
m a g n e t i c
permanent
making
strong
the instrument is unaffected by external magnetic fields (e.g. Earth's
and a is
that
of B
value
10* T).
=5 x
ADVANTAGES OF MOVING COIL GALVANOMETER
field
galvanometer
essentially consists of two parts viz. a permanent magnet which
coil
moving
field and a
current carrying rectangular coil. This arrangement has the
A m a g n e t i c
the
ollowing
rovides advantages :
of the galvanometer can be increased by increasinig n, Band A while
sensitivity
(0 The of k.
decreasing the value
scale
instrument has a linear
in The of B, the deflection is almost uninfluenced by the
Since the instrument uses high value
(i) external magnetic fields.
(v) As
frame, damping is produced by eddy
the coil is wound on a nonmagnetic metallic
ents. As aresult, the coil quickly assumes the final deflected position.
() The instrument can be used for a.c. measurements if a rectifier is used.
Eyample 9.31. A moving coil galvanometer has a coil of 125 turns. The coil has an
eQuivalent area of 40O mm. The coil lies in a radial field of 0.5 T.
() Calculate the torque exerted when a current of 20 mA flows through the coil.
(i) Given that suspension offers a restoring torque of 40x 10° Nm/degree, calcu
late the angular deflection of the coil.
Solution. (i) Torque exerted, T =nl BA
Here n = 125: I = 20 × 10- A: B= 0.5 T:A = 400 x10 m
T= (125) x (20 x 10)x (0.5) x (400 x 10) = 5 x 10 Nm
T =k0
T 5x104
Deflection, 0 = = 12.5
40 × 10 k
Example
Consists of 60 9.32. The coil of a mnoving coil galvanometer has an area of 5 x 10 m. It
onstant turns of fine wire and is in a magnetic field of 9 x 10 T. The restoring torque
be radial,for the Suspension wire is 3
x 10 Nm per degree. Assuming the magnetic field to
Scale can what is the
maximum current that can be measured by this galvanometer if the
Solution:accommodate
Suppose I is36 deflection?
the coil current that corresponds to full-scale deflection (i.e., 0 = 36°).
k
n I,, BA = k 0 or I, =
nBA