E XPE RIMENT A7

AIM

To determine the resistance of a galvanometer by half deflection method and to find its
figure of merit.
APPARATUS AND MATERIAL REQUIRED
AWeston type galvanometer, a battery of 3 V/a battery eliminator, a high resistance box (0-10 k2),a
low resistance box (0- 200 2), two one-way keys, a voltmeter (0 -3V), connecting wires and a piece of
sand paper.
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 Chapter 6 : GALVANOMETER. AMMETER
AND VOLTMETER
WORKINGFORMULAE
1. The resistance Gof a
galvanometer by half deflection method is given by
RS G=
R-S
where R is the resistance in series with the galvanometer and
S is the shunt resS1Stance.
2. The figure of merit of the
galvanometer is given by
k=
(R+ G)0
where is the deflection produced with series resistance R and &is the
emf of the battery.
CIRCUIT DIGRAMS
K, R K (0 10 k2)
H.RB. HRB
(0- 10 k) R

1-Ig S
L.R.B.
(0-200s) K
Fig. 6.6 Determination of galvanometer resistance Fig. 6.7 Determination of fiqure of merit of the galvanometer.
by half-deflection method.
 OBSERyATIONS AND CALCULATIONS
Table 6.1 Resistance of galvanometer by half deflection method
High Half deflection Galvanometer resistance
S.No. resistance Deflection 0 Shunt resistance RS
2 G=
R(2) (divisions) S (2) R-S
(divisions)
1.
2.
3.

Mean value of G =
EMF of the battery, &= V
Resistance of the galvanomter, G=
Table 6.2 Figure of merit of the galvanometer
Figure of merit
S.No.
High resistance Deflection 9
R (2) (divisions) k= A diy-1
(R+ G)0
1.

2.

3.

4.

Mean value of k = A diy-1

RESUJ
1. Resistance of galvanometer by half-deflection method, G=
2. Figure of merit of the galvanometer, k= A divl
3. Current required for full scale deflection in the galvanometer, I, = A.

PRECAUTIONS
KAll the connections should be neat, clean and tight.
2. All the plugs of the two resistance boxes should be kept tight by giving them a gentle
twist.
3. The value of the series resistance R should be large. This ensures
correct value of G.
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 Chapter6: GALVANOMETER, AMMETER AND
VOLTMETER
4. The plug in the key K, should be inserted only after a
from the resistance box otherwise the resistance Rof high value has been taken out
galvanometer coil may burn.
5. The value of R should be adjusted so that deflection 0 is
the value of 0/2 can be obtained exactly with equal to an even number of divisions. Then
shunt S.
6. To decrease the deflection in the galvanometer, the shunt resistance S
should be decreased.
7. The emf the battery should remain constant. For this, a freshly
charged battery must be used.
8. For determining figure of merit, a high resistance voltmeter should be used to measure the emt of
the battery.

SOURCES OF ERROR
The plugs in the resistance boxes may not be clean or tight.
2. The emf of the battery may not be constant.
3. The divisions on the galvanometer scale may not be of equal size,