Acknowledgment

I would like to express my greatest gratitude to all those who

directly or indirectly helped and supported me throughout the

project.

Firstly, I am highly indebted to our Physics teacher Mr.Praveen

Sharma for his guidance and constant supervision as well as for

providing necessary information regarding the project. I would also

like to extend my gratitude to our principal for giving us a chance

to work on this project.

Finally, I would like to thank my parents and friends for their

continued support and coordination in this project.

 INDEX

Topic: Page No.

1) History 1 -2

2) Structure and Basic Principle 3

3) Working 4-5

4) Applications and Examples 6-8

5) Advantages and Disadvantages 9

6) Conclusion 10

7) Bibliography 11
 History of Moving Coil Galvanometer
In 1820, Hans Christian Ørsted made a key discovery that laid the
groundwork for the moving coil galvanometer. He found that an electric
current passing through a wire creates a magnetic field, causing a nearby
compass needle to deflect. This demonstrated the connection between
electricity and magnetism, a crucial insight that paved the way for future
developments in electromagnetism.

Later that year, Johann Schweigger built on

Ørsted's work by inventing the first galvanometer.
He coiled a wire around a compass needle to create
an instrument that could detect electric currents.
Known as the "multiplicator," this device amplified
the magnetic effect of the current, making it
possible to detect weaker electrical signals through
the increased deflection of the needle.

In 1833, Carl Friedrich Gauss and Wilhelm Weber

further refined the galvanometer by adding more coils, increasing its
sensitivity and accuracy. Their improved design allowed for more precise
measurements of small magnetic variations, which they used to study the
Earth's magnetic field. This advancement contributed significantly to the
understanding of geomagnetism and established the concept of absolute
electrical current measurement, crucial for later developments in physics
and electrical engineering.

In 1882, Jacques-Arsène d'Arsonval and Marcel Deprez introduced the

moving coil galvanometer that is widely recognized today. Their design
involved a coil, wound on a lightweight aluminium frame, suspended by a
thin wire or ribbon within the magnetic field of a
permanent magnet. A pointer was attached to
the coil, allowing for a direct reading of the
current. This innovation minimized friction, greatly
enhancing the accuracy and sensitivity of the
instrument.
What is Moving Coil Galvanometer..?
Moving coil galvanometer is an electromagnetic device that can measure
small values of current. It consists of permanent horseshoe magnets, coil, soft
iron core, pivoted spring, non-metallic frame, scale, and pointer.

Principle of Moving Coil Galvanometer

Torque acts on a current-carrying coil suspended in the uniform magnetic

field. Due to this, the coil rotates. Hence, the deflection in the coil of a
moving coil galvanometer is directly proportional to the current flowing in
the coil.

Structure of Moving Coil

Galvanometer

It consists of a rectangular coil of a large

number of turns of thinly insulated copper
wire wound over a light metallic frame.
The coil is suspended between the pole
pieces of a horseshoe magnet by a fine
phosphor – bronze strip from a movable torsion head. The lower end of the
coil is connected to a hairspring of phosphor bronze having only a few turns.
The other end of the spring is connected to a binding screw. A soft iron
cylinder is placed symmetrically inside the coil. The hemispherical magnetic
poles produce a radial magnetic field in which the plane of the coil is parallel
to the magnetic field in all its positions. A small plane mirror attached to the
suspension wire is used along with a lamp and scale arrangement to measure
the deflection of the coil.
 Working of Moving Coil Galvanometer

Theory: The torque produced on the current carrying loop is given as τ

=NIABSinθ

Let the restoring torque produce per rotation in the string is kθ which will
be equal and opposite the external torque as per Newton’s third law of
motion. NIABSinθ = kθ

As θ = 90° NIAB = kθ so I =

is a constant known as galvanometer constant represented by G.

G=

So I ∝ θ

Radial Magnetic Field:

The radial magnetic field is achieved by placing the soft iron at the centre
of the current carrying loop. Soft iron is placed because it is a ferromagnetic
substance which attracts all the surrounding magnetic field as a result the
magnetic field across the current carrying loop will be maximum and the
maximum torque will produce in the loop.

Current Sensitivity:

Current sensitivity is defined as the number of rotations produced when a

unit current is passed through the galvanometer. It is represented by IS and

IS =
IS = =

Current sensitivity depends on four factors, for greater value of current

sensitivity the restoring torque per rotation per (k) should be minimum,
that’s why the string is made up of the alloy phosphor bronze (minimum
value of k).

Voltage Sensitivity:

Voltage sensitivity is defined as the number of rotations produced when a

unit potential difference is applied to the galvanometer. It is represented by

Vs and VS = =

Where R is the resistance of the galvanometer.

VS = =

Voltage sensitivity depends on all those factors on which the current

sensitivity depends other than it also depends on the resistance R of the
galvanometer.

It’s not necessary that on changing the value of current sensitivity the value
of voltage sensitivity also changes. It may or may not be. The value of
current sensitivity changes on changing the value of number of turns N but
the value of voltage sensitivity will not change because the value of
galvanometer resistance R also changes accordingly.
 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 connected in a Wheatstone’s bridge circuit, the 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 (Ammeter).

b) The voltage by connecting it in series with high resistance

(Voltmeter).

Examples: In Control Systems, laser engraving, laser TV’s, laser

sintering, and displays. Galvanometers are also used in CD/DVD players
and hard drives to control the position of head servos.

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 and is given
by

V= RG.IG + R.IG
Advantages and Disadvantages of Moving Coil
Galvanometer

Advantages

 Sensitivity increases as the value of n, B, A increases and value of k

decreases.

 The eddy currents produced in the frame bring the coil to rest quickly,
due to the coil wound over the metallic frame.

Disadvantages

 We cannot change the sensitivity of the galvanometer at will.

 Overloading can damage any type of galvanometer.

 Conclusion
The moving coil galvanometer is a key instrument in physics, embodying
essential principles of electromagnetism. From Ørsted's early discoveries to
innovations by Thomson, d'Arsonval, and Deprez, it has evolved into a
highly sensitive and accurate device. It played a crucial role in early
telecommunications and remains valuable in education and research. While
modern digital alternatives exist, the moving coil galvanometer continues to
be a significant tool in studying electromagnetism, with potential for future
innovations to enhance its relevance.
 Bibliography

 NCERT Book

 https://www.wikipedia.org

 New Simplified Physics (SL Arora)

 https://toppr.com