PHYSICS ELECTRICAL MEASURING

CLASS : XII INSTRUMENTS

MOVING COIL GALVANOMETER
A galvanometer is a electro-mechanical measuring instrument which is used for
detection and measurement very low (𝑚𝐴 − 𝜇𝐴) electric current through electrical
circuits.
PRINCIPLE :
When a current carrying coil in a magnetic field experiences a
torque, under the action of this torque the coil rotates if it is free to do so.
CONSTRUCTION: Essential parts of a galvanometer are as under:
1. MAGNET: It is a U-shaped magnet with concave poles to make magnetic field
stronger, radial and constant.
2. COIL : Flat rectangular coil of thin enameled insulated wires, wound on an
aluminum frame.
3. CORE : It is soft iron cylinder, co-axial with the poles placed inside the coil.
4. SUSPENSION FIBER : It is a strip used to suspend the coil.
5. COPPER SPIRAL : It is a second current lead. It is connected to another
terminal of the coil.
6. A POINTER : It moves over a semi circular calibrated scale.

WORKING : When a current is passed through the

coil of galvanometer, it is acted upon by a deflecting
couple which tends to rotate the coil in magnetic
field. The turning coil twists the suspension strip and
comes to rest where the torque due to the couple
exerted by magnetic field is balanced by an opposing
couple due to the reaction of the twisted suspension
strip.
Deflecting torque in the coil = 𝝉 = 𝑩𝑰𝑵𝑨 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜶
Where,
𝑩 = Uniform magnetic field 𝑰 = Current passed through the coil
𝑵 = Number of turns of the coil 𝑨 = Cross-section area of the coil
𝜶 = Angle between the plane of coil and 𝐵
The restoring torque in suspension strip = 𝝉 = 𝑪𝛉
Where, 𝑪 = Restoring couple per unit twist
In equilibrium:

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PHYSICS ELECTRICAL MEASURING
CLASS : XII INSTRUMENTS
Deflecting torque = Restoring (Twist) torque
𝑩𝑰𝑵𝑨 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜶 = 𝑪𝜽
𝑪
𝑰= 𝜽
𝑩𝑵𝑨𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜶
𝑪
Where, is a constant.
𝑩𝑵𝑨𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜶
∴𝑰∝𝜽
Hence, the current passing through the coil is directly proportional to the angle of
deflection.

AMEMTER
An ammeter is a modifies form of a galvanometer. It is used to measure large electric
current.

CONVERSION OF GALVANOMETER INTO AMMETER :

A galvanometer
can be connected in to an ammeter of a given range by connecting a low resistance,
called shunt resistance in parallel to its coil.
Let,
𝑹𝒈 = Resistance of galvanometer coil 𝑰𝒈 = Current trough galvanometer coil
𝑹𝑺 = Shunt resistance
𝑰 = Total current passed (Range of ammeter)
𝑰𝑺 = 𝑰 − 𝑰𝒈 = Current passed through shunt
When current ′𝑰′ flows through the ammeter, the current
′𝑰𝒈 ′ must give full scale deflection and the remaining
excess current should pass through the shunt. Because,
′𝑹𝒈 ′ and ′𝑹𝑺 ′ are connected in parallel, then:
𝑽𝑺 = 𝑽𝒈
According to ohms law 𝑽 = 𝑰𝑹:
𝑰𝑺 𝑹𝑺 = 𝑰𝒈 𝑹𝒈
𝑰𝒈 𝑹𝒈
𝑹𝑺 =
𝑰𝑺
𝑰𝒈 𝑹𝒈
𝑹𝑺 =
𝑰 − 𝑰𝒈

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PHYSICS ELECTRICAL MEASURING
CLASS : XII INSTRUMENTS
An ammeter is always connected in series with any circuit. It does not change the
current flowing in the circuit. Since ′𝑹𝒈 ′ and ′𝑹𝑺 ′ are connected in parallel,
therefore their net resistance or resistance of the ammeter ′𝑹𝑨 ′ is given by:
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= +
𝑹 𝑨 𝑹𝒈 𝑹𝑺

VOLTMETER
A voltmeter is a modified form of a galvanometer. It is used to measure potential
difference across two points of a circuit.

CONVERSION OF GALVANOMETER INTO VOLTMETER :

A galvanometer
can be connected in to an voltmeter of a given range by connecting a high
resistance, called multiplier resistance in series to its coil.
Let,
𝑹𝒈 = Resistance of galvanometer coil 𝑰𝒈 = Current trough galvanometer
𝑹𝑿 = Multiplier (Series) resistance 𝑽 = Total P.d (Range of voltmeter)
For accurate measurement of p.d, its resistance must be as high as possible, so that
it draws negligible current from the circuit for its working, without adversely
affecting already existing potential difference.
According to ohm’s law the total p.d of the circuit is:
𝑽 = 𝑰𝑹
Because, ′𝑹𝒈 ′ and ′𝑹𝑿 ′ are connected in series then net
restance will be 𝑹𝒈 + 𝑹𝑿 and total current will be ′𝑰𝒈 ′.
𝑽 = 𝑰𝒈 (𝑹𝒈 + 𝑹𝑿 )
𝑽
= 𝑹𝒈 + 𝑹𝑿
𝑰𝒈
𝑽
𝑹𝑿 = − 𝑹𝒈
𝑰𝒈
A voltmeter is always connected in parallel with any circuit, so that it draws very
small current owing to its high resistance. Since ′𝑹𝒈 ′ and ′𝑹𝑿 ′ are connected in
series, therefore their net resistance or resistance of the voltmeter ′𝑹𝑽 ′ is given by:
𝑹𝑽 = 𝑹𝒈 + 𝑹𝑿

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PHYSICS ELECTRICAL MEASURING
CLASS : XII INSTRUMENTS

WHEATSTONE BRIDGE
The Wheatstone bridge was designed by an English physicist, Sir Charles
Wheatstone, in 1843.
If four resistance
𝑹𝟏 , 𝑹𝟐 , 𝑹𝟑 & 𝑹𝟒 are connected end to end in
such a manner that they form a closed loop. A
sensitive galvanometer through a key is
connected across two opposite junctions
whereas a cell is connected across the remaining
two junctions, then such an electrical circuit is
known as Wheatstone bridge.

CIRCUIT ANALYSIS : Consider four resistors 𝑹𝟏 , 𝑹𝟐 , 𝑹𝟑 & 𝑹𝟒 are connected

end to end in such a manner that they form a closed loop. If the key 𝑲𝟏 is closed,
current 𝑰𝟏 flows through 𝑹𝟏 & 𝑹𝟐 and 𝑰𝟐 flows through 𝑹𝟑 & 𝑹𝟒. If the key 𝑲𝟐 is
also closed, some current flows through the galvanometer. The resistances
𝑹𝟏 , 𝑹𝟐 , 𝑹𝟑 & 𝑹𝟒 (or at least one) can be adjusted so that the galvanometer shows
no deflection. This condition is called ‘Null Point’ or Balance condition of
galvanometer.

BALANCED CONDITION: 𝑹𝟏 & 𝑹𝟑 are connected in parallel.

∴ 𝑽𝑨𝑩 = 𝑽𝑨𝑫
𝑰𝟏 𝑹𝟏 = 𝑰𝟐 𝑹𝟑 __________(1)
Similarly, 𝑹𝟐 & 𝑹𝟒 are connected in parallel.
∴ 𝑽𝑩𝑪 = 𝑽𝑪𝑫
𝑰𝟏 𝑹𝟐 = 𝑰𝟐 𝑹𝟒 __________(2)
Dividing equations (1) & (2):
𝑰𝟏 𝑹𝟏 𝑰 𝑹 𝑹𝟏 𝑹
= 𝑰𝟐 𝑹𝟑  = 𝑹𝟑
𝑰𝟏 𝑹𝟐 𝟐 𝟒 𝑹𝟐 𝟒
This is the condition for a balance Wheatstone bridge. If this condition is satisfied,
the bridge will be balanced i.e. no current will flow through its galvanometer and
null point will be obtained.

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