NAVY CHILDREN

SCHOOL
2020-21

Physics investigatory project

TOPIC: To study earth’s magnetic field using
tangent galvanometer.
GROUP MEMBERS:
1) Aleefiya Rab Ansari
2) Eakta Prasad
3) Jagriti Singh
4) Samapika Pradhan
 CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that ALEEFIYA RAB ANSARI, EAKTA
PRASAD, JAGRITI SINGH and SAMAPIKA PRADHAN of
class XII-B of Navy Children School have satisfactorily
completed this project as per the requirements of Central
Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

Signature of Teacher:

Signature of Principal:

Signature of Examiner:

Acknowledgement
We would like to thanks our school principal Dr. Parul Kumar
and our Physics teacher Mrs. Vemuri Subrahmanyeswari for
giving us this wonderful opportunity to do this project which
enabled us to do a lot of research and helped us learn so
many new things.
We would also like to thank our parents for their
continuous support and encouragement. Our sincere
thanks and appreciations also go to our classmates and
our physics lab assistant who helped us in finalizing this
project.

Aleefiya Rab Ansari

Eakta Prasad
Jagriti Singh
Samapika Pradhan

INDEX
S.No. ITEM PAGE
NO.
1. Certificate 2
2. Acknowledgement 3
3. Magnetic field of Earth 5
4. What is tangent 13
galvanometer?
5. Experiment 18
6. Conclusion 24
7. Bibliography 25
 MAGNETIC FIELD OF
EARTH-
EARTHS MAGNITISM
 The earth’s magnetic field extends millions of
kilometers into outer space and looks very much
like a bar magnet. The earth’s south magnetic pole
is actually near the North Pole and the magnetic
north pole is in Antarctica! This is why a
compass magnet’s North Pole actually points north
(north and south poles attract).
 The reason, why a bar magnet points in the north-
south direction, is because of the influence of earth’s
gigantic magnetic field. It is believed that the electric
currents circulating from earth’s core to space give
rise to the earth’s magnetic field
 This magnetic field saves the earth from the solar
wind that could cause the ozone layer of the earth to
strip away. The SI unit of the earth’s magnetic field
is Tesla

 The Earth’s magnetic field extends far and wide but

is very weak in terms of field strength. A mere
40,000 nT compared to a refrigerator magnet which
has a strength of 10.
 The Earth’s magnetic field extends far and wide but
is very weak in terms of field strength
Theory of Earth’s Magnetism:
There is no valid reason for the cause of the earth’s
magnetism or why earth has giant magnetic field.
However, there are a few theories related to earth’s
magnetic field which helps us to understand that
why earth behaves as a giant magnet. Some of the
theories are mentioned below:

 The Dynamo Effect: The outer core of the earth

has molten Iron and other heavy elements in
liquid form. The inner core solidifies under the
influence of gravity. Therefore, the motion of
metallic fluids in the outer core of the earth causes
an electric current. Thus, the earth gets its own
magnetic field lines.
 Ionization of the Outer Layers: This theory tells
us that the rotation of the earth in its own axis
produces strong electric current due to the
ionization of the outer layers of earth. This
produces magnetism due to the movement of the
ions. As a result of which when the earth rotates,
there is a movement of charged ions, which in
return produces electric current.
 However, the magnetic field will be very weak. The
Dynamo Effect is the more acceptable theory.

WHAT CAUSES EARTHS MAGNITISM ?

Earth’s Magnetism is generated by convection currents
of molten iron and nickel in the earth’s core. These
currents carry streams of charged particles and
generate magnetic fields. This magnetic field deflects
ionizing charged particles coming from the sun (called
solar wind) and prevents them from entering our
atmosphere. Without this magnetic shield, the solar
wind could have slowly destroyed our atmosphere
preventing life on earth to exist. Mars does not have a
strong atmosphere that can sustain life because it
does not have a magnetic field protecting it.
The earth’s magnetic poles are not aligned to the
actual geographic north and south poles. Instead, the
magnetic South Pole is in Canada while the magnetic
north pole lies in Antarctica. The magnetic poles are
inclined by about 10 degrees to the earth’s rotational
axis. So, all this time your compass was really pointing
to Canada, not the true North!
Components of Earth’s Magnetic Field:
Near the surface of Earth, the magnetic field of the
planet can be resolved in different directions. These are
the components that are responsible for the magnitude
as well as direction of the earth’s magnetic field of the
earth at a given location:
 Magnetic declination
 Magnetic inclination or the angle of dip
 Horizontal component of the earth’s magnetic field

Magnetic Declination:
The magnetic declination is defined as the angle
between the true north and the magnetic north. On the
horizontal plane, the true north is never at a constant
position and keeps varying depending upon the
position on the earth’s surface and time.
or
When a magnetic needle is suspended freely in the air,
it always points in the north-south direction free form
all other attracting forces. This is known as Magnetic
Meridian.

Geographic meridian is defined as the plane passing

through the north and south poles of the earth

Magnetic Declination is defined as the angle made by

the Magnetic meridian with the geographic meridian.

Fig: Pictorial
Fig: The angle θ is representatio
known as the n of true
magnetic geographic
declination north and
south-pole
Magnetic Inclination:
The magnetic inclination is also known as the angle of
dip. It is the angle made the horizontal plane on the
earth’s surface. At the magnetic equator, the angle of
dip is 0° and at the magnetic poles, the angle of dip is
90°.
EXPLANATION: Take a magnetic needle and suspend it
freely so that it can rotate about a horizontal axis as
shown in the diagram below:

The angle that the north pole of the needle makes with
the horizontal axis is known as the Angle of Dip or
Magnetic Inclination
 At the magnetic equator, the angle of dip is 0° and
at the magnetic poles, the angle of dip is 90

Horizontal Component of the Earth’s

Magnetic Field:
The magnetic intensity of the earth’s magnetic field
makes an angle known as Angle of Dip (δ) with the
horizontal axis. We can separate the intensity of the
earth’s magnetic field  into two components:

 Horizontal Component(H)
 Vertical Component(v)
There are times when these elements undergo regular
or irregular changes at all places on earth. Why does
this happen? Following are some of the important
variations of the elements.

Variations in Earth’s Magnetic Field

 Secular Variation: The magnetic axis undergoes a
periodic change because of its spin around its own
axis from east to west. The time cycle of this
variation is 960 years.
 Eleven-year Sunspot Cycle: Once in every eleven
years, the earth faces the sunspot which is a region
of the strong magnetic field. Thus the magnetic
activity of the earth is very much influenced by this
variation.
 Daily and Annual Variation: The ultraviolet rays
from the sun ionize the earth’s atmosphere. As a
result of which the current is generated which
further produces the magnetic field. This is the
result of daily and annual variations.
 Lunar Variations: Apart from the sun,
the moon also influences the magnetic activity of
earth. Due to the tidal motions of the earth’s ionized
layer during a lunar eclipse, there is variation in
earth’s magnetic field. This variation is the Lunar
Variation.
 Irregular and Aperiodic Variation: During a
particular period of time when the solar activity of
the sun is more active, the radiations from the sun
ionize the atmosphere of the earth. This causes
current when the earth revolves around its own axis
resulting in the magnetic field.
Tangent Law or Superposition of Magnetic
Fields
Consider a magnetic needle to be placed in space
under the influence of two magnetic force or field
which is perpendicular to each other. Clearly under
the influence of both the magnetic field, the needle will
try to set itself parallel. But a point will come when the
two magnetic fields will be equal and opposite to each
other. In such a case, the magnet will come to rest.
SUMMARY:
 WHAT IS A TANGENT
GALVANOMETER?
o Electric current can be measured using an
instrument called the tangent galvanometer.
Using this instrument we are able to measure the
presence, the direction and the power of currents.
The instrument was first used in the early 1800s.
It typically has a vertical copper wire coil, wrapped
around a circular frame, and a compass in the
middle.
o The compass needle generally responds to the
magnetic field of the electric current, which is
compared to the earth’s magnetic field in the
experiment. This scientific
instrument has been built
in many forms and more
modern ones often use
beams of light to determine
measurements, while some
versions are used to
measure the m magnetic
field of the earth.
The tangent galvanometer works
based on the principal: tangent
law of magnetism.
This principal Tangent law states that, if a magnetic
field ′B′ is applied at right angles to the horizontal
component of the earth's field BH, the needle comes to
equilibrium at an angle ′θ′ to the magnetic meridian
such that, tan θ=BHB.

 CONSTRUCTION:
The tangent galvanometer consists of the following
parts.

 A coil having large number of turns:

The coil consists of an insulated copper wire wound on
a vertical circular frame. The frame is made up of
magnetic material like ebonite.
The frame is fixed vertically on a horizontal base with
levelling screws. The coil is provided with two or more
coils of different number of turns. Thus the number of
turns can be changed.

 A small magnetic needle:

A magnetometer box with a magnetic needle is kept at
the centre of the coil in a horizontal plane. The
magnetic needle is pivoted at the centre of the coil and
can rotate in a horizontal plane.
A light aluminium pointer is pivoted at a right angle to
the magnetic needle. When the needle turns through a
certain angle the aluminium pointer also turns
through the same angle.
The deflection can be read on a circular degree scale. A
mirror is placed below the pointer to avoid error due to
parallax.

 ADJUSTMENT:
 All nearby magnets and magnetic materials are
removed away from the instrument.
 The instrument is first levelled using spirit level by
adjusting levelling screws at the base so that the
needle is exactly horizontal and the coil is exactly
vertical.
 The coil is then rotated about its vertical axis so
that its plan is parallel to the needle. Thus the coil
remains in the magnetic meridian.
 The magnetometer box is rotated so that the
pointer reads 00-00.

 DIAGRAM:

 WORKING:
 When the plane of the coil is placed parallel to the
horizontal component of earth’s magnetic induction
 (Bh) and a current is passed through the coil, there
will be two magnetic fields acting perpendicular to
each other:
(1) The magnetic induction (B) due to the current in
the coil acting normal to the plane of the coil
(2) The horizontal component of earth’s magnetic
induction(Bh)

Due to these two crossed fields, the pivoted magnetic

needle is deflected through an angle Ө.
According to tangent law,

If a current I passes through the coil of n turns and of

radius a, the magnetic induction at the centre of the
coil is

Substituting equations (2) in (1)

 Since the tangent galvanometer is most
sensitive at a deflection of 45 0, the deflection
has to be adjusted to be between 300 and 600.
 APPLICATIONS / PURPOSE :
1.Tangent galvanometer can be used to measure
the magnitude of the horizontal component of the
geomagnetic field.
2.The principal can be used to compare the
galvanometer constants.
3.For calibration of secondary instrument.
 DEFECTS OF A TANGENT GALVANOMETER :
 A tangent galvanometer is not a direct reading
instrument to find current. After finding the
deflection of coil, the current is calculated by using
a formula.
 It cannot measure very low currents.
 EXPERIMENT
AIM:
To study the earth’s magnetic field using a tangent
galvanometer.

APPARATUS:
 Tangent galvanometer(TG)
 Battery(E)
 Rheostat(RH)
 Spirit level
 Ordinary Key(K)
 Reversing key(RK)
 Ammeter(A)
 Connecting wires
 Meter scale.
 THEORY :
The working of tangent galvanometer is based on the tangent
law. It is stated as when a magnet is suspended freely in two
mutually perpendicular uniform magnetic field F and H, the
magnet comes to rest making an angle  with the direction H
such that,
F = H tan  …(1)
Let a current I be passed through the coil of radius R, having
turns N. Then magnetic field produced at the centre of coil is,

By substituting the values of current I, from equation (3),

Putting values of radius of coil of galvanometer R, deflection 

and N, the value of H can be calculated.

 DIAGRAM:
 CIRCUIT CONNECTIONS:

 PROCEDURE:
1. Make the circuit connection in accordance with the circuit
diagram.
2. Using the spirit level, level the base and the compass needle
in compass box of tangent galvanometer by adjusting the
levelling screw.
3. Now, rotate the coil of the galvanometer about its vertical
axis, till the magnetic needle, its image in the plane mirror
fixed at the base of the compass box and the coil, i.e., all
these three lie in the same vertical plane.
 4. By closing the key K, the current flow in the galvanometer.
Read the both ends of pointer. Now reverse the directions
of current by using the reversing key.
5. By adjusting the rheostat, bring the deflection in
galvanometer around 450. The deflection shouldn’t be
outside the range (300-600).
6. Record the readings of the ammeter and the deflection of
the compass needle in box shown by two ends of pointer on
the scale.
7. Reverse the current in the coil of galvanometer and again
record the current and deflection of needle.
8. By changing the value of current, take four more set of
readings and plot the graph between I and tan . The graph
will be a straight line.
9. Measure the inner and outer diameter of the coil with a half
metre scale at least three times.
 OBSERVATION:
1. Range of ammeter =____
2. Least count of ammeter=____
3. Zero error in ammeter=____
4. Number of turns used (N) =____
Table 1: For variation of  with I

Value of deflection, 0 Ammeter reading

(A)
S.No
Mean 0 tan 0 Observed Corrected
For For
Direct Reverse
current current
𝜽1 𝜽2 𝜽3 𝜽4
 1.

2.

3.

4.

Table 2: For radius of tangent galvanometer

Inner diameter Outer diameter Mean
S.No d1 (cm) d2 (cm) diameter Mean radius
d
1
2
3
Mean radius of coil, R = ___cm

 GRAPH:

From the graph,

Slope of straight line = BC

AC
 m = tan 
I
Now substitute the m in Eq. (4),
m = tan  = µ0 2пN
I 4п RH
Then, H = ____Gauss.

 RESULT:

The value of earth magnetic field by using a tangent

galvanometer is,
H = ___G= ___T

 PRECAUTIONS:
1. The battery should be freshly charged.
2. The magnetic 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 reading should be adjusted between 30 0 and 600.
 SOURCES OF ERROR:
1. There may be no magnetic material around appratus.
2. The plane of coil will not be exactly in the magnetic meridian.
 CONCLUSION
 Experiment in tangent galvanometer gives the
reduction factor of galvanometer and horizontal
intensity of Earth’s magnetic field.
 The ionization of earth’s atmosphere is the
expected reason for the magnetic field around the
earth. When the earth rotates on its own axis, the
ionized particle also moves which gives rise to
current that produces the magnetic field. However
the exact theory or reason for earth’s magnetic field
is yet not known. Various experiments are being
carried out to know the characteristics of the earth’s
magnetic field.
 The effects on the earth’s magnetic field due to
different variations proves the fact that the magnetic
poles of the earth reverses with time, that is,
the Earth’s Magnetic Field is flips with time not
periodically but aperiodically and that the magnetic
activity of the earth is very much influenced by the
external factors such as the sun, moon etc.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
 http://en.wikipedia.org
 Comprehensive Practical Physics
 www.wisegeek.com
 www.britannica.com
 www.amrita.edu
 www.academia.edu
Earths Magnetism & Angle of inclination and dip:
 https://byjus.com/physics/magnetic-field-earth-
magnetism/
 https://www.toppr.com/guides/physics/magnetism-and-
matter/the-earths-magnetism/
 https://www.askiitians.com/iit-jee-magnetism/the-
earths-magnetism/