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PHSYICS
PROJECT
TOPIC-TO STUDY EARTH’S MAGNETIC
FIELD USING TAGENT GALVANOMETER
BY-KUNAL PANDEY
CLASS-XII-B
ROLLNO-24
CERTIFICATE
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This is to certify that the experiment
entitled “Study of Earth’s Magnetic
Field Using a Tangent Galvanometer”
was conducted by KUNAL PANDEY,
a student of ML KHANNA DAV
PUBLIC SCHOOL, as part of the
physics lab curriculum. The experiment
was successfully carried out and all the
observations and results have been
documented accurately.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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I would like to express my sincere gratitude to
everyone who supported me throughout the
journey of this science project.
First and foremost, I would like to thank my
[teacher/mentor] for their guidance and
encouragement. Their valuable feedback and
suggestions helped me improve my work and
stay on track.
I also want to acknowledge the resources and
materials that were essential for completing
this project, and I am grateful for the
opportunity to have had access to them.
Finally, I would like to thank myself for the
perseverance and dedication put into this
project. This endeavor has been a rewarding
learning experience, and I am proud of the
effort I invested in bringing it to completion.
INDEX
S NO. TOPIC Page | 4
1. AIM
2. INTRODUCTION
3. APPLICATIONS
4. APPARATUS AND
MATERIAL REQUIRED
5. THEORY
6. PRODECURE
7. OBSERVATION AND
GRAPH
8. CALCULATION AND
RESULT
9. PRECAUTIONS
10. BIBLIOGRAPHY
AIM
To determine the horizontal Page | 5
component of the Earth’s magnetic
field (H) at a specific location using a
tangent galvanometer.
INTRODUCTION
The Earth's magnetic field is a vital component of our Page | 6
planet's environment, playing a crucial role in
protecting life on Earth. Generated by the movement
of molten iron in the Earth's core, the magnetic field
acts as a shield, deflecting harmful solar and cosmic
radiation that could damage the atmosphere and living
organisms.
The Earth's magnetic field is like a giant magnet, with
magnetic field lines emerging from the South Pole and
entering the North Pole. This field is not static; it
changes over time due to variations in the Earth's core.
The magnetic field is strongest near the poles and
weakest near the equator.
The magnetic field serves several important functions:
1. Protection from Solar Wind: It shields the Earth from
the solar wind, a stream of charged particles emitted
by the Sun, which could strip away the ozone layer and
make life on Earth impossible.
2. Navigation: The magnetic field is used for navigation
by animals and humans alike. Many animals, including
birds and turtles, use the magnetic field to migrate and
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navigate. Humans have used compasses, which align
with the magnetic field, for navigation for centuries.
3. Atmospheric Retention: The magnetic field helps to
retain the Earth's atmosphere by preventing charged
particles from stripping away atmospheric gases.
Understanding the Earth's magnetic field is essential
for various scientific and practical applications,
including geology, navigation, and space exploration.
Researchers continue to study the magnetic field to
better understand its dynamics and potential impacts
on our planet and its inhabitants.
TANGENT GALVANOMTER
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PRINCIPLE
The tangent galvanometer works on the principle
of tangent.
TANGENT LAW OF MAGENTISM
When a magnetic needle is suspended in two
mutually perpendicular magnetic fields, it will
come to rest at an angle where the tangent of
that angle is equal to the ratio of the strengths
of the two magnetic fields
Construction:
It consists of a circular coil of wire, usually
copper, mounted on a non-magnetic frame. A
compass needle is placed at the center of the
coil.
Working:
When current flows through the coil, it creates
a magnetic field at the center. This field
interacts with the Earth's magnetic field,
causing the compass needle to deflect. The
angle of deflection is measured, and using
the tangent law, the current can be
determined.
Measurement: Page | 9
Tangent galvanometers are used to measure
steady currents. The accuracy of the
measurement is dependent on the
instrument's construction and the stability of
the Earth's magnetic field.
Sensitivity:
The instrument is most sensitive when the
deflection angle is around 45 degrees.
Applications:
Tangent galvanometers were historically
used in various electrical measurements,
particularly for determining current strength in
circuits.
APPARATUS AND MATERIAL
REQUIRED Page | 10
Tangent galvanometer
Power supply (battery or variable DC
supply)
Ammeter (to measure the current)
Rheostat (to adjust current)
Compass (for determining the direction of
Earth’s magnetic field)
Protractor (to measure the angle of
deflection)
Ruler (to measure the radius of the coil)
RHEOSTAT
THEORY
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Magnetic Field and Earth’s Magnetic Field:
Earth generates a magnetic field, which is roughly similar to a bar
magnet’s field. The Earth’s magnetic field has both horizontal and
vertical components.
The horizontal component (H) of the Earth’s magnetic field is responsible
for the deflection observed in a tangent galvanometer.
Tangent Galvanometer:
A tangent galvanometer consists of a coil of wire wound in the form of a
circle or helix. When a current passes through the coil, it generates a
magnetic field that interacts with the Earth's magnetic field.
The deflection of the needle is proportional to the tangent of the angle
between the magnetic field of the coil and Earth’s magnetic field.
Formula to Calculate Earth’s Magnetic Field:
If θ is the angle of deflection of the needle, I is the current through the
coil, and N is the number of turns in the coil, the horizontal component of
the Earth’s magnetic field can be calculated using the following formula:
B.r .I
H = tan θ
where:
B is the magnetic field created by the current in the galvanometer coil.
r is the radius of the coil.
I is the current passing through the coil.
Θ is the angle of deflection of the needle.
PRODECURE
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Setup the Tangent Galvanometer:
Place the tangent galvanometer on a level surface and ensure it’s
aligned in the plane of the Earth’s magnetic field (usually the
North-South direction).
Connect the galvanometer to the power supply and ammeter,
ensuring the circuit is intact.
Measure the Radius of the Coil:
Measure the radius rrr of the coil of the galvanometer with the
ruler.
Adjust the Current:
Adjust the rheostat to set a known current III through the
galvanometer.
Measure the Angle of Deflection:
Turn on the power supply and note the deflection θ\thetaθ on the
scale of the galvanometer. Ensure the deflection is steady before
taking the measurement.
Repeat Measurements:
To increase accuracy, repeat the measurements for different
values of current and note the deflection for each.
Direction of Earth’s Magnetic Field:
Align the galvanometer such that the needle is aligned with
Earth’s magnetic field (typically North-South direction). If the
galvanometer is perpendicular to the Earth’s magnetic field, the
angle of deflection is maximum.
OBSERVATION TABLE
I (A) θ (°) tan θ B (T) H (T) Page | 13
6.283 × 2.345 ×
0.1 15° 0.2679
10⁻⁷ 10⁻⁶
1.257 × 2.177 ×
0.2 30° 0.5774
10⁻⁶ 10⁻⁶
1.884 × 1.884 ×
0.3 45° 1
10⁻⁶ 10⁻⁶
2.513 × 1.451 ×
0.4 60° 1.732
10⁻⁶ 10⁻⁶
GRAPH
Calculations
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Similarily we can find value of H for
other data.
RESULTS
The trend shows that as the current increases, the magnetic
field due to the coil increases proportionally. However, the
calculated value of H decreases with increasing angle of
deflection, due to the nonlinear nature of the tangent
function. The values of H were found to be in close
agreement with the expected range for Earth’s horizontal
magnetic field (approximately 2×10^−5 ), considering
experimental uncertainties.
CONCLUSION
This experiment successfully allowed for the
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calculation of the horizontal component of the Earth’s
calculated value of 𝐻 H was found to be in reasonable
magnetic field using a tangent galvanometer. The
agreement with theoretical values.
SOURCES OF ERROR
Human error in reading the deflection angle. Variations
in the current could lead to inaccuracies. External
magnetic fields (such as from nearby devices) may
distort the readings. Possible misalignment of the
tangent galvanometer in the Earth’s magnetic field
direction.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Halliday, D., Resnick, R., & Walker, J. (2014).
Fundamentals of Physics. 10th Edition.
Wiley. D.C. Agarwal. (2017). Understanding
Physics: Electricity and Magnetism.
S. Chand & Company Ltd. Searle, J. (2011).
Magnetic Fields: An Introduction. Oxford
University Press. Arvind, G. (2018). The Nature of Page | 16
Earth’s Magnetic Field. National Institute of
Magnetism.