MOVING COIL GALVANOMETER (MCG):
A device used to detect and measure small electric currents or voltages.
Principle:
When a current carrying coil is suspended in a uniform magnetic field, it experiences a
torque which rotates the coil.
Construction:
• It consists of a copper coil of 𝑵 turns wound over a cylindrical soft iron core.
The coil is free to rotate about its axis.
• The soft iron core is placed between the concave pole pieces of a strong
horseshoe magnet, which increases the magnetic field strength and produces a
radial magnetic field.
• A pointer is attached to the coil through a spiral (coiled) spring to indicate the
deflection.
Working:
When current flows through the coil, it experiences a magnetic torque,
𝜏𝐵 = 𝑁𝐼𝐴𝐵sin 𝜃
Since the magnetic field is radial, 𝜽 = 𝟗𝟎∘
∴ 𝝉𝑩 = 𝑵𝑰𝑨𝑩
As the coil rotates, the spiral spring twists and produces a restoring torque,
𝜏𝑠 ∝ 𝜙 ⟹ 𝝉𝒔 = 𝒄𝝓
where, 𝑐 ⟶ Torsional constant of the spring (twist per unit deflection)
𝜙 ⟶ Angle of deflection
The pointer comes to rest when,
Hint:
𝝉𝑩 = 𝝉𝒔
𝑐
𝐼= .𝜙
𝑁𝐼𝐴𝐵 = 𝑐𝜙 𝑁𝐴𝐵
𝑐
𝑵𝑰𝑨𝑩 is called the galvanometer
∴𝝓= 𝑁𝐴𝐵
𝒄
constant
Since 𝑁, 𝐴, 𝐵 and 𝑐 are constants,
𝝓∝𝑰
Thus, a galvanometer will behave like a linear device.
Question 1:
※
Define current sensitivity, voltage sensitivity and Figure of merit of a galvanometer.
Current sensitivity: (𝑺𝑰 ):
The deflection per unit current passing through galvanometer is known as
current sensitivity.
𝑵𝑨𝑩
𝝓 𝑺𝑰 =
Current sensitivity 𝑺𝑰 = ⟹ 𝒄
𝑰
S.I unit: 𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝐴−1 (or) div 𝐴−1
Voltage sensitivity (𝑺𝑽 ):
The deflection per unit voltage applied across the galvanometer is known as
Voltage sensitivity.
𝝓 𝑵𝑨𝑩
Voltage sensitivity 𝑺𝑽 = ⟹ 𝑺𝑽 =
𝒄𝑹
𝑽
S.I unit: 𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝑉 −1 (or) div 𝑉 −1
Figure of merit of a galvanometer: (𝐾)
The current per unit deflection in the galvanometer is known as figure of
merit. It is the reciprocal of current sensitivity.
𝑰 𝒄
𝑲= ⟹ 𝑲=
𝝓 𝑵𝑨𝑩
S.I unit: A/div
※ Question 2:
Increasing the current sensitivity may not necessarily increase the voltage sensitivity
of a galvanometer. Justify.
Justification:
If the number of turns of the coil is doubled, the current sensitivity doubles because
𝑺𝑰 ∝ 𝑵 .
Also, doubling the number of turns doubles the length of the wire.
Since 𝑅 ∝ 𝑙, the galvanometer resistance also doubles.
∴ 𝑹′ = 𝟐𝑹 for 𝑵′ = 𝟐𝑵
𝑁𝐴𝐵
WKT, 𝑆𝑉 =
𝑐𝑅
𝑁′ 𝐴𝐵 (2𝑁)𝐴𝐵
𝑆𝑉′ = ⟹
𝑐𝑅 ′ 𝑐(2𝑅)
𝑁𝐴𝐵
𝑆𝑉′ =
𝑐𝑅
∴ 𝑺′𝑽 = 𝑺𝑽
Hence, the voltage sensitivity remains unchanged.
CONVERSION OF GALVANOMETER INTO AMMETER:
A low resistance (shunt resistance, 𝑅𝑆 )
is connected in parallel with the
galvanometer to convert it into an
ammeter. This decreases the effective
resistance and increases its range.
Since both are connected in parallel,
𝑉𝐺 = 𝑉𝑆
𝐼𝐺 𝑅𝐺 = (𝐼 − 𝐼𝐺 )𝑅𝑆
Therefore, 𝑰𝑮 𝑹𝑮
𝑹𝑺 =
𝑰 − 𝑰𝑮
where, 𝑅𝐺 → Galvanometer resistance
𝐼𝐺 → Full-scale deflection current
𝐼 → Maximum current to be measured
Note:
For an ideal ammeter, the effective resistance is zero.
CONVERSION OF GALVANOMETER INTO VOLTMETER:
A high resistance (𝑅𝑆 ) is connected in series with the galvanometer to convert it into a
voltmeter, thereby increasing the effective resistance and its range of the voltmeter.
Since both 𝑅𝐺 and 𝑅𝑆 are in series, 𝑰𝑮 = 𝑰𝑺
𝑉𝐺 𝑉𝑆
=
𝑅𝐺 𝑅𝑆
𝑽𝑺 𝑹𝑮
Rearranging, we get 𝑹𝑺 = ①
𝑽𝑮
Since, 𝑽𝑺 = 𝑽 − 𝑽𝑮 and 𝑽𝑮 = 𝑰𝑮 𝑹𝑮
(𝑉−𝑉𝐺 )𝑅𝐺
Therefore ① becomes, 𝑅𝑆 =
𝐼𝐺 𝑅𝐺
𝑉−𝑉𝐺 𝑉−𝐼𝐺 𝑅𝐺
𝑅𝑆 = ⟹ 𝑅𝑆 =
𝐼𝐺 𝐼𝐺
𝑽
∴ 𝑹𝑺 = − 𝑹𝑮 ②
𝑰𝑮
where, 𝑉 → Maximum voltage to be measured
𝑉𝐺 → Full-scale deflection voltage
Note:
For an ideal voltmeter, the effective resistance is infinity.