PHYSICS PROJECT
TO STUDY EARTH'S
MAGNETIC FIELD
USING TANGENT
GALVANOMETER
SUBMITTED BY:
Tejas Sutar
Class :- XII - DIAMOND
SNBP INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL CHIKHALI
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my sincere gratitude and deep appreciation to all
those who have supported and guided me throughout the completion of this
chemistry project.
I am profoundly grateful to my respected Principal, Rashimirekha Saha , for
providing excellent infrastructure, resources, and a conducive learning
environment that made this project possible.
My sincere and special thanks to my Physics Teacher, Neha Ma’am , whose
invaluable guidance, constant encouragement, and expert supervision were
instrumental in shaping this project. Her insightful suggestions and
unwavering support helped me overcome various challenges during the
course of this work.
I extend my warm thanks to the Lab Assistant and School Staff for their
cooperation and assistance in providing the necessary materials and
apparatus required for the experiments.
I cannot forget to acknowledge the contribution of my Parents whose
constant support, motivation, and blessings have been my source of strength
throughout this academic journey.
Lastly, I would like to thank my Friends and Classmates for their constructive
suggestions and moral support during the preparation of this project.
This project would not have been complete without the encouragement and
help received from all these wonderful people.
Tejas Sutar
Class XII-D
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Contents :
o Certificate
o Acknowledgement
o Aim/Objective
o Introduction
o Tangent Galvanometer
o Experiment
o Observation Table
o Graph
o Result
o Conclusion
o Bibliography
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OBJECTIVE
Study Earth's Magnetic Field Find the Horizontal Component
To study the earth's magnetic field using a To find out the horizontal component of
tangent galvanometer. earth's magnetic field (Bh).
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). This
vital protective shield originates deep within the Earth's core, generated by the convection of molten
iron alloys. This dynamic process is described by the geodynamo theory, where the Earth's rotation,
combined with the movement of conductive fluid, creates electric currents, which in turn produce the
magnetic field.
The Earth's magnetic field is largely dipolar, meaning it has a north and south magnetic pole, similar to
a bar magnet. However, it is more complex than a simple dipole, exhibiting significant spatial and
temporal variations. It is not static; it constantly changes in strength and direction over geological
timescales, a phenomenon known as secular variation. These variations include pole reversals, where
the magnetic north and south poles swap places, an event that has occurred many times throughout
Earth's history.
The importance of this magnetic field cannot be overstated. It plays a crucial role in making Earth
habitable by shielding the planet from harmful charged particles of the solar wind and cosmic rays,
which could otherwise strip away the atmosphere and be lethal to life. It is also fundamental for
navigation, as compasses align themselves with the horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic
field. Many animals, such as birds and sea turtles, also use the Earth's magnetic field for migration.
To study and measure this invisible force, various instruments have been developed. One such
historical and fundamental device is the Tangent Galvanometer. Invented in 1837 by Claude Pouillet,
this instrument was critical in early electrical measurements and in understanding geomagnetism. Its
operation is based on the tangent law, which states that when two mutually perpendicular magnetic
fields act at a point, the resultant field makes an angle whose tangent is the ratio of the strengths of
the two fields.
In the context of studying Earth's magnetic field, the tangent galvanometer is used to measure the
horizontal component (Bh) of the Earth's magnetic field. By passing a known current through the
galvanometer's coil, a magnetic field is produced perpendicular to the horizontal component of Earth's
magnetic field. The deflection of a compass needle placed at the center of the coil allows for the
determination of Bh using the tangent relationship. This method provides a practical and accurate way
to understand a key characteristic of our planet's protective magnetic shield.
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The Geomagnetic Field
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 irregular intervals averaging several
hundred thousand years, the Earth's field
reverses and the North and South Magnetic
Poles relatively abruptly switch places. These
reversals of the geomagnetic poles leave a
record in rocks that are of value to
paleomagnetists in calculating geomagnetic
fields in the past. Such information in turn is
helpful in studying the motions of continents
and ocean floors in the process of plate
tectonics.
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The Magnetosphere and Field Intensity
The magnetosphere is the region above the ionosphere and extends several tens of thousands of kilometers into space,
protecting the Earth from the charged particles of the solar wind and cosmic rays that would otherwise strip away the upper
atmosphere, including
the ozone layer that protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
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 harmful ultraviolet radiation. One stripping mechanism is for gas to be caught in bubbles of
magnetic field, which are ripped off by solar winds.
The intensity of the field is often measured in gauss (G), but is generally reported in nanoteslas (nT), with 1 G = 100,000 nT. A
nanotesla is also referred to as a gamma (γ).The tesla is the SI unit of the Magnetic field, B. The field ranges between
approximately 25,000 and 65,000 nT (0.25–0.65 G). [Link]
Earth's Magnetic Dipole
Near the surface of the Earth, its magnetic field can be closely approximated by the field of a magnetic
dipole positioned at the center of the Earth and tilted at an angle of about 10° with respect to the
rotational axis of the Earth. The dipole is roughly equivalent to a powerful bar magnet, with 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
northward (in the geographic sense). Since the north pole of a magnet attracts the south poles of other
magnets and repels the north poles, it must be attracted to the south pole
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Tangent Galvanometer
A tangent galvanometer is an early measuring instrument used for the measurement of electric
current. It works by using a compass needle to compare a magnetic field generated by the unknown
current to the magnetic field of the Earth. It gets its name from its operating principle, the tangent law
of magnetism, which states that the tangent of the angle a compass needle makes is proportional to
the ratio of the strengths of the two perpendicular magnetic fields. It was first described by Claude
Pouillet in 1837.
Coil and Frame Compass Box Graduated Scale
Consists of a coil of Mounted horizontally at the The circular scale is divided
insulated copper wire center of a circular scale. It into four quadrants, each
wound on a circular non- has a tiny, powerful graduated from 0° to 90°.
magnetic frame, mounted magnetic needle pivoted at An aluminum pointer is
vertically on a horizontal the center of the coil, free attached to the needle.
base with leveling screws. to rotate.
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Operation of the Tangent
Galvanometer
In operation, the instrument is first rotated until the magnetic field of the Earth, indicated by the
compass needle, is parallel with the plane of the coil. Then the unknown current is applied to the coil.
This creates a second magnetic field on the axis of the coil, perpendicular to the Earth's magnetic field.
The compass needle responds to the vector sum of the two fields, and deflects to an angle equal to the
tangent of the ratio of the two fields. From the angle read from the compass's scale, the current could
be found from a table.
The current supply wires have to be wound in a small helix, like a pig's tail, otherwise the field
due to the wire will affect the compass needle and an incorrect reading will be obtained.
A tangent galvanometer can also be used to measure the magnitude of the horizontal component of
the geomagnetic field. When used in this way, a low-voltage power source, such as a battery, is
connected in series with a rheostat, the galvanometer, and ammeter. The galvanometer is first aligned
so that the coil is parallel to the geomagnetic field, whose direction is indicated by the compass when
there is no current through the coils. The battery is then connected and the rheostat is adjusted until
the compass needle deflects 45 degrees from the geomagnetic field, indicating that the magnitude of
the magnetic field at the center of the coil is the same as that of the horizontal component of the
geomagnetic field. This field strength can be calculated from the current as measured by the ammeter,
the number of turns of the coil, and the radius of the coils.
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Principle and Formulae
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
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.
From Figure B = Bh tanθ. This is known as tangent law of magnetism.
If θ is the deflection of the needle, then according to tangent law,
Let I be the current passing through the coil of radius a with n turns, then the magnetic field generated
by the current carrying coil is,
Equating (1) and (2), we get,
The left hand side of equation (4) is a constant and is called the reduction factor K of the given Tangent
Galvanometer.
Now from the equation (3) & (5), the horizontal intensity of Earth's magnetic field Bh is,
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Experiment Details
Aim
• To determine the reduction factor of a tangent galvanometer.
• To find the horizontal intensity of the Earth's magnetic field
Apparatus
Accumulator, Rheostat, Ammeter, Commutator, Tangent Galvanometer
Principle & Formulae
• The reduction factor of T.G is K=I/tanθ, where I is the current flowing through the T.G which
produces the deflection θ.
• The horizontal intensity of Earth's magnetic field at a place. Bh = µ0nK/2r, where n is the number of
turns of the coil, µ0 = 4π×10-7 NA-2 is the permeability of free space, K is the reduction factor of the
T.G and r is the radius of the coil of the T.G.
Procedure Summary
01 02
Setup and Alignment Measure Deflections
Make the circuit. Adjust leveling screws to make Put in Commutator keys. Adjust rheostat for
the coil vertical. Rotate T.G to read (0-0) at the deflection between 10° and 60°. Note deflections
pointer ends, aligning the coil with the magnetic θ1 & θ2 for current I.
meridian.
03 04
Reverse and Average Repeat and Calculate
Reverse the Commutator. Note deflections θ3 & Repeat by varying the current. Measure
θ4. The average of the four readings is the circumference (S) to find radius r. Calculate Bh =
deflection θ. Calculate I=K tanθ. µ0nK/2r.
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OBSERVATION TABLE
7 6 7 6 6.5 0.114 0.06 0.06
9 10 10 9 9.5 0.167 0.08 0.08
14 13 14 13 13.5 0.240 0.11 0.11
18 17 18 17 17.5 0.315 0.15 0.15
22 21 21 22 21.5 0.394 0.19 0.19
GRAPH
0.45
0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
Tan θ
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0.06 0.08 0.11 0.15 0.19
Current I (A)
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Results and Conclusion
Calculated Values
• Mean K = 0.484
• The reduction factor of TH = 0.484
• Number of turns of the coil = 50
• Circumference of the coil (S) = 2πr = 31.4 cm
• Radius of the coil r = S/2π = 5.00 cm
Horizontal Intensity Calculation
Horizontal Intensity at the place Bh = µ0nK/2r
= 2πnK × 10-7 /r
= 3.04 × 10-6 T
For different values of current I, deflections are noted and values are calculated. Knowing K, n and r the
value of horizontal intensity Bh can be calculated.
Result
Reduction Factor (K) Horizontal Intensity (Bh)
1. The reduction factor of T.G, K = 0.484 A 2. Horizontal Intensity at the place,
Bh = 3.04 × 10-6 T
CONCLUSION
Experiment in tangent galvanometer gives the reduction factor of galvanometer and horizontal
intensity of Earth's magnetic field.
PRECAUTIONS
• The battery should be freshly charged .
• The magnetic needle should be swing freely in the horizontal plane.
• The plane of coil must be set in magnetic meridian.
• There should be no parallax in noting down the readings of ammeter and deflection.
• All the readings should be adjusted between 30o to 60o .
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SOURCES OF ERROR
• There may be a magnetic material around the apparatus.
• The plane of coil will not be exactly in the magnetic meridian.
PICTURES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
❖ Wikipedia
❖ NCERT physics practical book
❖ Gkscientist
❖ [Link]
THANK YOU !
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