MOVING COIL
GALVANOMETER
MOVING COIL GALVANOMETER
A moving coil galvanometer is a device used to detect
electric current in a circuit.
PRINCIPAL: A current carrying coil placed in the magnetic
field experiences a torque. The magnitude of this torque depends
on the strength of the current.
MOVING COIL GALVANOMETER
CONSTRUCTION:
The moving coil galvanometer is made up
of a rectangular coil that has many turns of
fine insulated copper wire that is wounded
on a light aluminum frame. The coil is free
to rotate about a fixed axis.
The motion of the coil is controlled by a
spring Sp that provides rotating torque
when the rectangular coil rotates. A light
aluminum pointer is attached to the coil,
measures the deflection on a suitable scale.
MOVING COIL GALVANOMETER
The coil is symmetrically placed between
concave poles of a permanent horse-shoe
magnet.
A soft and cylindrical iron core is positioned
inside the coil in order to make the field radial
and to increase the strength of the magnetic
field.
3D view : [Link]
MOVING COIL GALVANOMETER
THEORY & WORKING:
When a current flows through the coil, a
torque acts on it. This torque is given by
τ = NI AB sinθ
As the field is radial , the plane of the coil is
always remains parallel to the field 𝐵 i.e.
angle between 𝐴Ԧ and 𝐵 (θ)= 90o
So τ = NI AB
This magnetic torque τ tends to rotate the
coil. The spring Sp provides a restoring
torque(kΦ) that balances the magnetic
torque τ ; resulting in a steady angular
deflection Φ.
In equilibrium,
kΦ = NI AB
𝑁𝐼𝐴𝐵
or Φ=
𝑘
𝑁𝐴𝐵
or Φ= I
𝑘
𝑁𝐴𝐵
Where the quantity is constant for a galvanometer
𝑘
𝑘
The factor is called the galvanometer constant or figure of merit.
𝑁𝐴𝐵
Therefore Φ ∝ I
Figure of merit of a galvanometer is the current which produces a deflection of one
scale division in the galvanometer.
𝐼 𝑘
Figure of merit = =
𝜙 𝑁𝐴𝐵
Sensitivity of a Galvanometer
A galvanometer is said to be sensitive if it shows large scale deflection even when a
small current is passed through it or a small voltage is applied across it.
Current Sensitivity: Deflection produced per unit current is called the
current sensitivity of the Galvanometer.
𝜙 𝑁𝐴𝐵
Current sensitivity = =
𝐼 𝑘
Voltage Sensitivity: Deflection produced per unit voltage is called the
voltage sensitivity of the Galvanometer.
𝜙 𝜙 𝑁𝐴𝐵
Voltage sensitivity = = =
𝑉 𝐼𝑅 𝑘𝑅
Sensitivity of a Galvanometer
Factors affecting the sensitivity:
a) N, number of turns in its coil
b) B, Magnetic field
c) A, Area of the coil
d) k, Torsion constant of the spring
Conversion of a Galvanometer in to Ammeter
A galvanometer as such can not be used as an ammeter due to two reasons:
1) Galvanometer is a very sensitive device it gives a full- scale deflection with
a small current of a few µA.
2) For measuring current, the galvanometer is to be connected in series and as
it has a large resistance , this will decrease the value of current in the
circuit.
To convert a galvanometer in to an ammeter , a small resistance called
SHUNT resistance is connected in parallel to the galvanometer coil, so that most of
the current pass through the shunt.
Conversion of a Galvanometer in to Ammeter
As the galvanometer and the Shunt are connected in parallel,
so
PD across the Galvanometer = PD across the Shunt
Ig G = ( I - Ig ) S
𝐼𝑔
Thus 𝑆 = xG
𝐼−𝐼𝑔
Hence ammeter is a shunted or low resistance galvanometer.
The effective resistance of the arrangement ,
𝐺×𝑆
Rc = ≈ S if G >>S
G+𝑆
If S has small value, in relation to the resistance of the rest of the circuit Rc, the effect of introducing the
measuring instrument is also small and negligible.
Conversion of a Galvanometer in to Voltmeter
For measuring voltage the galvanometer must be connected
in parallel with the section of the circuit, across which the
voltage is to be measured.
Further, it must draw a very small current, otherwise the voltage measurement
will disturb the original set up by an amount which is very large.
To convert a Galvanometer in to an Voltmeter , a high resistance is connected in
series to the galvanometer
The resistance of the voltmeter is now,
G + R ≃ R , for R>>G
𝑉
By ohm’s law, Ig =
R+𝐺
𝑉
or R = −𝐺
𝐼𝑔
Simulation for Galvanometer
[Link]
r/app/[Link]?screen=sandbox
Q: In the circuit the current is to be measured. What is
the value of the current if the ammeter shown
(a) is a galvanometer with a resistance G = 60.00 Ω;
(b) is a galvanometer described in (a) but converted to
an ammeter by a
shunt resistance S = 0.02 Ω;
(c) is an ideal ammeter with zero resistance?
Q: Two moving coil meters, M1 and M2 have the following particulars: R1 = 10 Ω,
N1 = 30, A1 = 3.6 × 10–3 m2, B1 = 0.25 T , R2 = 14 Ω, N2 = 42, A2 = 1.8 × 10–3 m2, B2 =
0.50 T (The spring constants are identical for the two meters).
Determine the ratio of (a) current sensitivity and (b) voltage sensitivity of M2 and
M1.
Q:If number of turns in a moving coil galvanometer is doubled, then the current
sensitivity and voltage sensitivity will respectively be
a) same, same. b) double, same.
c) same, double. d) double, double.
Q: Two moving coil galvanometers having same area of coils are in the same
magnetic field The turns are 20 and 30 and resistances are 8Ω and 16Ω
respectively Find the ratio of current sensitivity and voltage sensitivity of both
the galvanometers
a) 1.33, 0.67 b) 0.67, 1.33 c) 1.5, 0.75 d) 0.75, 1.5
Q: Current sensitivity of a moving coil galvanometer is 5𝑑𝑖𝑣/𝑚𝐴 and
its voltage sensitivity (angular deflection per unit voltage applied) is
20𝑑𝑖𝑣/𝑉 The resistance of the galvanometer is
a) 40Ω b) 25Ω c) 250Ω d) 500Ω