Galvanometer - Types, Working Principle, Moving Coil

Galvanometer, Conversions

A galvanometer is a device that is used to detect small electric current or measure its magnitude. The
current and its intensity is usually indicated by a magnetic needle’s movement or that of a coil in a
magnetic field that is an important part of a galvanometer.

Since its discovery in the 1800s, galvanometer has seen many iterations. Some of the different types of
galvanometer include Tangent galvanometer, Astatic galvanometer, Mirror galvanometer and Ballistic
galvanometer. However, today the main type of galvanometer type that is used widely is the
D’Arsonval/Weston type or the moving coil type. A galvanometer is basically a historical name that has
been given to a moving coil electric current detector.

What is a Moving Coil Galvanometer?

A moving coil galvanometer is an instrument which is used to measure electric currents. It is a sensitive
electromagnetic device which can measure low currents even of the order of a few microamperes.

Moving-coil galvanometers are mainly divided into two types:

Suspended coil galvanometer

Pivoted-coil or Weston galvanometer

Moving Coil Galvanometer Principle

A current-carrying coil when placed in an external magnetic field experiences magnetic torque. The
angle through which the coil is deflected due to the effect of the magnetic torque is proportional to the
magnitude of current in the coil.

Moving Coil Galvanometer Construction And Diagram

The moving coil galvanometer is made up of a rectangular coil that has many turns and it is usually
made of thinly insulated or fine copper wire that is wounded on a metallic frame. The coil is free to rotate
about a fixed axis. A phosphor-bronze strip that is connected to a movable torsion head is used to
suspend the coil in a uniform radial magnetic field.

Essential properties of the material used for suspension of the coil are conductivity and a low value of
the torsional constant. A cylindrical soft iron core is symmetrically positioned inside the coil to improve
the strength of the magnetic field and to make the field radial. The lower part of the coil is attached to a
phosphor-bronze spring having a small number of turns. The other end of the spring is connected to
binding screws.

The spring is used to produce a counter torque which balances the magnetic torque and hence help in
producing a steady angular deflection. A plane mirror which is attached to the suspension wire, along
with a lamp and scale arrangement is used to measure the deflection of the coil. Zero-point of the scale
is at the centre.

/
Working of Moving Coil Galvanometer
Let a current I flow through the rectangular coil of n number of turns and a cross-sectional area A. When
this coil is placed in a uniform radial magnetic field B, the coil experiences a torque τ.

Let us first consider a single turn ABCD of the rectangular coil having a length l and breadth b. This is
suspended in a magnetic field of strength B such that the plane of the coil is parallel to the magnetic
field. Since the sides AB and DC are parallel to the direction of the magnetic field, they do not
experience any effective force due to the magnetic field. The sides AD and BC being perpendicular to
the direction of field experience an effective force F given by F = BIl

/
Using Fleming’s left-hand rule we can determine that the forces on AD and BC are in opposite direction
to each other. When equal and opposite forces F called couple acts on the coil, it produces a torque.
This torque causes the coil to deflect.

We know that torque τ = force x perpendicular distance between the forcesτ

=F×b

Substituting the value of F we already know,

Torque τ acting on single-loop ABCD of the coil = BIl × b

Where lx b is the area A of the coil,

Hence the torque acting on n turns of the coil is given byτ

= nIAB

The magnetic torque thus produced causes the coil to rotate, and the phosphor bronze strip twists. In
turn, the spring S attached to the coil produces a counter torque or restoring torque kθ which results in a
steady angular deflection.

Under equilibrium condition:

kθ = nIAB

Here k is called the torsional constant of the spring (restoring couple per unit twist). The deflection or
twist θ is measured as the value indicated on a scale by a pointer which is connected to the suspension
wire.

θ= ( nAB / k)I

Therefore θ 𝖺 I

The quantity nAB / k is a constant for a given galvanometer. Hence it is understood that the deflection
that occurs the galvanometer is directly proportional to the current that flows through it.

Solved question: What is the purpose of introducing a cylindrical soft iron core inside the moving coil
galvanometer?

/
Solution: The cylindrical soft iron core placed inside the galvanometer increases the magnetic field
strength, thereby improving the sensitivity of the instrument. It also makes the magnetic field radial so
that the angle between the plane of the coil and the magnetic lines of force remains zero at all times
during the rotation of the coil.

Sensitivity Of Moving Coil Galvanometer

The general definition of the sensitivity experienced by a moving coil galvanometer is given as the ratio
of change in deflection of the galvanometer to the change in current in the coil.

S = dθ/dI

The sensitivity of a galvanometer is higher if the instrument shows larger deflection for a small value of
current. Sensitivity is of two types, namely current sensitivity and voltage sensitivity.

Current Sensitivity

The deflection θ per unit current I is known as current sensitivity θ/Iθ/I =

nAB/k

Voltage Sensitivity

The deflection θ per unit voltage is known as Voltage sensitivity θ/V. Dividing both sides by V in the
equation θ= (nAB / k)I;

θ/V= (nAB /V k)I = (nAB / k)(I/V) = (nAB /k)(1/R) R

stands for the effective resistance in the circuit.

It is worth noting that voltage sensitivity = Current sensitivity/ Resistance of the coil. Therefore under the
condition that R remains constant; voltage sensitivity 𝖺 Current sensitivity.

Figure of Merit of a Galvanometer

It is the ratio of the full-scale deflection current and the number of graduations on the scale of the
instrument. It also the reciprocal of the current sensitivity of a galvanometer.

Factors Affecting Sensitivity Of A Galvanometer

a) Number of turns in the coil

b) Area of the coil

c) Magnetic field strength B

d) The magnitude of couple per unit twist k/nAB

Solved Question: Increase in current sensitivity results in an increase in voltage sensitivity of a moving
coil galvanometer. Yes or no? Justify your answer.

Solution: No. An increase in current sensitivity of a moving coil galvanometer may not necessarily result
in an increase in voltage sensitivity. As the number of turns(length of the coil) are increased to increase
the current sensitivity of the device, the resistance of the coil changes. This is because the resistance of
the coil is dependent on factors like the length and area of the coil.

As we know that voltage sensitivity θ/V = (nAB /k)(1/R) ; the overall value of voltage sensitivity remains
unchanged.

Applications of Galvanometer
The moving coil galvanometer is a highly sensitive instrument due to which it can be used to detect the
presence of current in any given circuit. If a galvanometer is a connected in a Wheatstone’s bridge
circuit, pointer in the galvanometer shows null deflection, i.e no current flows through the device. The
pointer deflects to the left or right depending on the direction of the current.

The galvanometer can be used to measure;

a) the value of current in the circuit by connecting it in parallel to low resistance.

b) the voltage by connecting it in series with high resistance.

/
Conversion Of Galvanometer To Ammeter
A galvanometer is converted into an ammeter by connecting it in parallel with a low resistance called
shunt resistance. Suitable shunt resistance is chosen depending on the range of the ammeter.

In the given circuit

RG – Resistance of the galvanometer

G- Galvanometer coil

I – Total current passing through the circuit

IG – Total current passing through the galvanometer which corresponds to full-scale reading

Rs – Value of shunt resistance

When current IG passes through the galvanometer, the current through the shunt resistance is given by
IS = I – IG. The voltages across the galvanometer and shunt resistance are equal due to the parallel
nature of their connection.

Therefore RG .IG= (I- IG).Rs

The value of S can be obtained using the above equation.

Conversion Of Galvanometer To Voltmeter

A galvanometer is converted into a voltmeter by connecting it in series with high resistance. A suitable
high resistance is chosen depending on the range of the voltmeter.

/
In the given circuit

RG = Resistance of the galvanometer

R = Value of high resistance

G = Galvanometer coil

I = Total current passing through the circuit

IG = Total current passing through the galvanometer which corresponds to a full-scale deflection.

V = Voltage drop across the series connection of galvanometer and high resistance.

When current IG passes through the series combination of the galvanometer and the high resistance R;
the voltage drop across the branch ab is given by

V= RG.IG + R.IG

The value of R can be obtained using the above equation.

Solved Question: A moving coil galvanometer of resistance 100Ω is used as an ammeter using a
resistance of 0.1Ω. The maximum deflection current in the galvanometer is 100μA. Find the current in
the circuit, so that the ammeter shows maximum deflection. (IIT-JEE|2005)

Solution: It is given that RG =100Ω , Rs= 0.1Ω, IG =100μA

We know that RG .IG= (I- IG).RS

Therefore I = (RG .IG+ IG.Rs)/ RS

I= (1+RG/ RS). IG

Substituting the given values, we get I= 100.1mA

Solved Question: A galvanometer coil of 40Ω resistance shows full range deflection for a current of 4mA.
How can this galvanometer be converted into a voltmeter of range 0-12V?

Solution:

/
As we know that V = IG (RG + R)

R = V/ IG – RG

= (12/ (4×10-3)) – 40

R = 2960 Ω

Advantages And Disadvantages Of A Moving Coil Galvanometer

Advantages

High sensitivity.
Not easily affected by stray magnetic fields.
The torque to weight ratio is high.
High accuracy and reliability.

Disadvantages

It can be used only to measure direct currents.

Develops errors due to factors like aging of the instrument, permanent magnets and damage of
spring due to mechanical stress.