PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT
To Study the Earth's Magnetic Field using a Compass Needle, Bar
Magnet, and Tangent Galvanometer
Divoat Srilak Gunathilaka Mesityage Don
12-D
CERTIFICATE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my
sincere gratitude to my
Physics teacher,Ms.Megha
Joseph, for their guidance,
encouragement, and support
during the course of this
project.
Lastly, i would like to thank all the
people who helped me directly or
indirectly for the successful
completion of this project
TABLE OF CONTENTS
AIM OF THE PROJECT
The aim of the project is to study the Earth’s
magnetic field and find its value (BH) using a tangent
galvanometer.
Tangent galvanometer made by Top view of a tangent galvanometer
J.H. Bunnell Co. around 1890
INTRODUCTION
The tangent galvanometer is a scientific instrument
introduced in 1837 by Claude-Servais-Mathias Pouillet. He
later used this precise device to confirm Ohm’s law.
For operation, the instrument is positioned on a flat surface,
and its coil is rotated until it lies along the Earth’s magnetic
north–south line. In this position, when no current passes
through, the compass needle at the center of the coil rests
parallel to the coil’s plane.
When an electric current flows through the coil, it generates a
magnetic field (B) that is perpendicular to the coil’s plane.
The strength of this field is directly proportional to the
current’s magnitude. At the same time, the needle is also
influenced by the horizontal component of the Earth’s
magnetic field (BH).
The principle of the tangent galvanometer is based on the
tangent law of magnetism, which relates the deflection of
a magnetic needle to the ratio of two perpendicular
magnetic fields.
.The needle finally settles in the direction of the resultant field, which is
the vector sum of B and BH, forming an angle θ with its initial position.
From the tangent law,
tan θ = B / BH
Since BH remains constant at a given location and B is proportional to the
current, the measured current becomes directly proportional to the tangent
of the needle’s deflection angle
MATERIALS REQUIRED
➢ Tangent Galvanometer (TG),
➢ Commutator (C),
➢ Rheostat (R),
➢ Battery (E),
➢ Ammeter (A),
➢ Key (K),
PLUG KEY BATTERY ELIMINATOR
RHEOSTAT
THEORY
Earth behaves like a giant bar magnet whose magnetic field is generated by the movement of molten iron and
nickel in its outer core. This movement produces electric currents, which in turn create a magnetic field
through the process called the geodynamo.
The Earth's magnetic field at any location has two components:
1. Vertical component (BV) – pointing downward or upward depending on the hemisphere.
2. Horizontal component (BH) – acting in the horizontal direction along the magnetic meridian.
To study BH, we can use a Tangent Galvanometer (TG).
A TG is a coil of wire wound on a circular frame, with a compass needle placed at its center. When an electric
current passes through the coil, it produces a magnetic field (B) perpendicular to the plane of the coil.
If the coil is placed in the magnetic meridian, this magnetic field (B) is at right angles to the Earth’s horizontal
field (BH).
According to the tangent law of magnetism,
Which states “when a magnetic needle is acted upon by two mutually perpendicular uniform magnetic fields,
the tangent of its deflection angle (θ) is equal to the ratio of their magnitudes”
Where:
● B = magnetic field due to current in the TG coil
● BH= horizontal component of Earth’s magnetic field
● θ = deflection of the compass needle from magnetic north
The magnetic field produced by a coil of radius R, with N turns, carrying current I is:
Here:
● μ0=4π×10^−7 T. m/A(permeability of free space)
● N = number of turns in the coil
● I = current through the coil
● R = radius of the coil
Thus, by measuring θ for a known current I, we can calculate BHat the given place.
PROCEDURE
Connections are made as shown in the figure given below, where K is
the key, E the battery, A the ammeter, R the rheostat, C the
commutator, and T.G the tangent galvanometer. The commutator can
reverse the current through the T.G coil without changing the current
in the rest of the circuit. Taking the average of the resulting two
readings for deflection averages out, any small error in positioning the
TG coil relative to the earth’s magnetic field H .
PROCEDURE FOR PERFORMING THE
EXPERIMENT
1.Connect all components exactly as shown in the experimental circuit diagram.
2.Use a spirit level to ensure both the instrument base and the compass needle inside the tangent
galvanometer are perfectly horizontal. Adjust the leveling screws until balanced.
3.Slowly rotate the galvanometer coil around its vertical axis until three things are aligned in one vertical
plane:
● the magnetic needle,
● its reflection in the mirror fixed inside the compass box,
● and the coil itself.
4.In this aligned position, the aluminium pointer should read 0–0 on both ends of the scale. If this doesn’t
happen, gently rotate the compass box without shifting the coil until at least one end of the pointer shows
zero.
5.Close the key (K) to allow current through the coil. Take readings from both ends of the pointer.
6.Reverse the current using the reversing key and again note the pointer readings. If the difference
between the mean deflections (before and after reversal) is more than 1°, slightly adjust the coil’s vertical
position until the two values match. This ensures the coil plane is exactly along the magnetic meridian.
7.Adjust the rheostat so that the needle deflection is close to 45°. Keep it within the 30°–60° range.
8.Record the current from the ammeter and the needle’s deflection from both ends of the pointer scale.
9.Reverse the current again and note the current and deflection values a second time.
10.Repeat the above steps for at least four different current values. After collecting all data, plot a
graph of I (current) versus tan θ (tangent of deflection angle). You should get a straight-line relationship.
11.Using a half-metre scale, measure the inner and outer diameters of the coil three times each, then
record their average.
OBSERVATIONS (dont write
values )
1. Range of the Ammeter – 0–1 A
2. Least count of Ammeter – 0.01 A
3. Zero error in Ammeter –
4. Number of turns used (N) – 50 turns
S.No I(A) θ₁°(Diirec θ₂° Mean θ tan θ n (Turns) Bh (×10⁻⁵
t) (Reverse (° T)
)
1 0.10 15 14 14.5 0.258 50 3.13
2 0.20 30 29.5 29.5 0.566 50 2.80
3 0.30 45 44.5 44.5 0.975 50 2.46
4 0.40 60 59.5 59.5 1.68 50 2.34
Calculation
● Mean deflection (θ): Average of direct and reverse readings.
● tan θ: Calculated using a calculator (e.g., tan(29.5°) ≈ 0.566).
● Bh calculation: Based on the formula:
● Assuming:
○ Coil turns, n=50n
○ Coil radius, r=0.10 m
○ Permeability, μ0=4π×10−7 N/A^2
This example shows how Bh tends to converge to a typical range of 2–3 × 10⁻⁵ T, matching
real-world values of Earth's horizontal magnetic field.
GRAPH
RESULT
The value of earth’s magnetic field by using a tangent galvanometer is H = 7.6867 × 10−8 T
PRECAUTIONS
1. The battery should be freshly charged.
2. The magnetic needle should swing freely in the horizontal plane.
3. The plane of coil must be set in magnetic meridian.
4. There should be no parallax in noting down the readings of ammeter and deflection.
5. All the readings should be adjusted between 30º and 60º .
SOURCES OF ERROR
1. There may a magnetic material around apparatus.
2. The plane of coil will not be exactly in the magnetic meridian.
FACTS
The tangent galvanometer is a classic device used to measure electric current.
➢ When a circular coil carries a current (I), it creates a magnetic field that is directly
proportional to the current.
➢ The standard unit for measuring magnetic fields in the International System (SI) is the Tesla
(T).
➢ The Earth’s horizontal magnetic field intensity typically measures around 3.5 × 10⁻⁵ Tesla.
➢ For accurate results in tangent galvanometer experiments, it’s best if the needle deflection
angle falls between 30° and 60°.
➢ The permeability of free space, denoted as μ₀, has a value of 4π × 10⁻⁷ N/A².
APPLICATIONS
The tangent galvanometer (T.G.) is useful for determining the strength of the Earth’s horizontal
magnetic field component.
➢ Its working principle also helps in comparing the constants of different galvanometers.
➢ Additionally, it is employed to calibrate secondary measuring instruments.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
