PHYSICS

INVESTIGATORY PROJECT REPORT

STUDY OF EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD

USING TANGENT GALVANOMETER

By: B.Maanickavasagam
Class: XII – E

SUBMITTED TO DEPARTMENT OF
PHYSICS
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As well as I would like to thank our Correspondent Dr. R. Kishore Kumar,

and our Principal Mrs. Shanthi Samuel who gave me the golden opportunity
to do this project, which also helped me in doing a lot of research and I came to
know about so many new things when I was doing the project.

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my physics lab teacher,

Mr. Antony Lawrence for his guidance, support throughout the duration of the
project. I completed this project successfully by his motivation and his extended
support.

Finally, I would also like to thank my parents and friends who helped me a lot
in finalizing this project within the limited period.
 ABSTRACT

The Earth's magnetic field is a natural magnetic field that extends from the
Earth's interior out into space, forming a protective shield known as the
magnetosphere. This field is generated by the motion of molten iron and nickel
in the Earth's outer core, a process known as the geodynamo. The Earth's
magnetic field is approximately dipolar, with the magnetic poles near the
geographic poles, although there is a slight offset. The field lines emerge from
the southern hemisphere and curve around to enter the northern hemisphere,
creating a dipole pattern. The strength and direction of this field vary depending
on location, which is known as the magnetic declination and dip. The study of
this field is crucial for navigation, satellite operations, and understanding the
behaviour of charged particles in the Earth's atmosphere and space environment.

The project also aims to demonstrate the practical application of a tangent

galvanometer, an important instrument in measuring magnetic fields. By
comparing the magnetic field of the Earth with the field produced by a bar
magnet, the experiment will highlight the relationship between the two and help
estimate the magnetic declination and dip at the experimental site. This study
will not only provide a deeper understanding of Earth's magnetism but also
enhance the application of basic physics concepts, such as the superposition of
magnetic fields, vector analysis, and the use of scientific instruments in
experimental physics. The findings from this project will contribute to a better
understanding of Earth's magnetic properties and their significance in both
theoretical and practical contexts.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ....................................................................................................... 3
ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS ......................................................................................................... 5
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 6
BAR MAGNET COMPASS ................................................................................................ 9
EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD.......................................................................................... 9
DRAWING A MAGNETIC FIELD ..................................................................................10
TANGENT GALVANOMETER ......................................................................................... 11
AIM..........................................................................................................................................13
MATERIALS REQUIRED ...................................................................................................14
THEORY ................................................................................................................................15
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM............................................................................................................16
PROCEDURE ........................................................................................................................17
OBSERVATION ....................................................................................................................18
CALCULATION ....................................................................................................................18
RESULT ..................................................................................................................................19
PRECAUTIONS .................................................................................................................19
CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................................20
BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................................................................................................21
 INTRODUCTION

Earth's magnetic field, also known as the geomagnetic field, is the magnetic
field that extends from Earth's interior out into space, where it interacts with
the solar wind, a stream of charged particles emanating from the Sun. The
magnetic field is generated by electric currents due to the motion of convection
currents of a mixture of molten iron and nickel in Earth's outer core: these
convection currents are caused by heat escaping from the core, a natural process
called a geo dynamo.

The magnitude of Earth's magnetic field at its surface ranges from 25 to 65 μT

(0.25 to 0.65 G). As an approximation, it is represented by a field of a magnetic
dipole currently tilted at an angle of about 11° with respect to Earth's
rotational axis, as if there were an enormous bar magnet placed at that angle
through the centre of Earth. The North geomagnetic pole actually represents the
South pole of Earth's magnetic field, and conversely the South geomagnetic
pole corresponds to the north pole of Earth's magnetic field (because opposite
magnetic poles attract and the north end of a magnet, like a compass needle,
points toward Earth's South magnetic field, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut,
Canada).

The North and South magnetic poles wander widely, but sufficiently slowly for
ordinary compasses to remain useful for navigation. However, at irregular
intervals averaging several hundred, thousand years, the Earth's field reverses,
and the North and South magnetic poles relatively abruptly switch places. These
reversals of the geomagnetic poles leave a record in rocks that are of value to
paleomagnetists in calculating geomagnetic fields in the past. Such information
in turn is helpful in studying the motions of continents and ocean floors in the
process of plate tectonics. The magnetosphere is the region above the
ionosphere and extends several tens of thousands of kilometres into space,
protecting the earth from the charged particles of the solar wind and cosmic rays
that would otherwise strip away the upper atmosphere including the ozone layer
one stripping mechanism is for gas to be caught in bubbles of magnetic field
which are ripped off by solar winds.

The intensity of the field is often measured in gauss (G), but is generally
reported in nanoteslas (nT), with 1G = 100,000nT. A nanotesla is also referred
to as a gamma (γ). The tesla is the SI unit of the magnetic field, B. The field
ranges between approximately 25000 and 65000 nT (0.25-0.65G).
Near the surface of the Earth, its magnetic field can be closely approximated by
the field of a magnetic dipole positioned at the centre of the earth and tilted at
an angle of about 10° with respect to the rotational axis of the Earth. The dipole
is roughly equivalent to a powerful bar magnet, with its South Pole pointing
towards the geomagnetic North Pole. The North Pole of a magnet is so defined
because if allowed to rotate freely, it points roughly northward (in the
geographic sense). Since the north pole of a magnet attracts the south poles of
other magnet and repels the north pole, it must be attracted to the south pole.
BAR MAGNET COMPASS
A magnetic field is invisible, but it can be detected using a magnetic compass. A
compass contains a small bar magnet on a pivot so that it can rotate. The
compass needle points in the direction of the Earth’s magnetic field or the
magnetic field of the magnet.

Magnetic fields can be mapped out using small plotting compasses:

➢ Place the plotting compass near the magnet on a piece of paper.

➢ Mark the direction of the compass needle points.
➢ Move the plotting compass to many different positions in the magnetic
field, marking the needle direction each time.
➢ Join the needles to show the field lines.
➢ The needle of a plotting compass points to the south pole of the magnet.

EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD

The behaviour of a compass shows that the earth has a magnetic field. Scientists
believe that this field is produced by convection currents in the Earth's core,
which is made from iron and nickel. When a plotting compass is placed in the
Earth's magnetic field, the north pole of the compass will line up with the
Earth's magnetic field lines and point to the magnetic south.
DRAWING A MAGNETIC FIELD
This diagram shows the magnetic field around a bar magnet.

The diagram shows these key features:

➢ The magnetic field lines never cross each other.

➢ The closer the lines, the stronger the magnetic field.
➢ The lines have arrowheads to show the direction of the force exerted by a
magnetic north pole.
➢ The arrowheads point from the North pole to the South pole of the bar
magnet.
 TANGENT GALVANOMETER

A tangent galvanometer is an instrument used to measure the strength of a

magnetic field, typically in a laboratory setting. It consists of a coil of wire
placed in a uniform magnetic field, and the current passing through the coil
produces a magnetic field that interacts with the external magnetic field.

Definition:
A tangent galvanometer is a device used for measuring the strength of an
electric current by determining the angle of deflection produced by the magnetic
field generated by the current flowing through the coil.
Principle:
The principle of the tangent galvanometer is based on the fact that when an
electric current flows through a coil placed in a magnetic field, the magnetic
field produced by the coil interacts with the external magnetic field. This
interaction causes the needle of a compass (placed at the centre of the coil) to
deflect. The angle of deflection is directly proportional to the strength of the
current passing through the coil.

Tangent Law of Magnetism:

The tangent law of magnetism states that the tangent of the angle of deflection
(θ) of the needle of a galvanometer is directly proportional to the ratio of the
magnetic field due to the current in the coil (Bcoil) to the external magnetic field
(Bext).

Mathematically, this is expressed as:

Where:
• θ is the angle of deflection of the needle,
• Bcoil is the magnetic field produced by the current in the coil,
• Bext is the external magnetic field.

This law helps to relate the current passing through the coil to the measured
angle of deflection, allowing for the calculation of current strength.
 AIM

To study the principles of magnetism and electricity using a tangent

galvanometer by measuring the current flowing through a coil and observing the
resulting deflection angle of a magnetic needle. This experiment aims to
validate the tangent law of magnetism and establish the relationship between the
magnetic field produced by a current and an external magnetic field, typically
the Earth’s magnetic field.
 MATERIALS REQUIRED

APPARATUS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED:

➢ Accumulator
➢ Rheostat
➢ Ammeter
➢ Commutator
➢ Tangent Galvanometer
➢ White paper sheet
➢ Drawing Board
➢ Adhesive Tape
➢ Bar Magnet
➢ Iron Fillings
➢ Magnetic Compass
 THEORY

➢ The Reduction factor of tangent galvanometer is K=I/tan θ where I is the

current flowing through the tangent galvanometer which produces the
deflection θ.

➢ The horizontal intensity of earth’s magnetic field at a place Bh=μ0nK/2r,

where n is the number of turns of coil, μ0 = 4pi x 10-7 NA-2 is the
permeability of free space, K is the reduction factor of the tangent
galvanometer and r is the radius of the coil of the tangent galvanometer.

➢ In practical terms, the galvanometer is used in conjunction with a scale

and a protractor to measure the angle of deflection caused by the current.
The deflection of the needle is read against a calibrated scale, and using
the tangent law, the current can be calculated. This makes the tangent
galvanometer a useful tool for experiments involving small currents, such
as those produced by low-power devices, and in physics laboratories for
demonstrating the relationship between electricity and magnetism.
 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

When a bar magnet is suspended in two magnetic fields B and Bh, it comes to
rest making an angle θ with the direction of Bh.

➢ The coil is the primary component where the current flows. The wire is
wound into a circular shape, which is placed inside the tangent
galvanometer. The current flowing through the coil produces a magnetic
field.
➢ A galvanometer is used to detect and measure the angle of deflection of
the magnetic needle. The needle will deflect based on the magnetic field
produced by the current flowing through the coil. The deflection angle is
used to calculate the current.
 PROCEDURE
➢ Assemble the circuit as shown in the diagram.

➢ The plane of the coil is made vertical by adjusting the levelling screws.

➢ The plane of the coil is made parallel to (90-90) in the compass box.

➢ The whole tangent galvanometer is rotated to read (0-0) at the ends of the
aluminium pointer. Now the plane of the coil is in the magnetic meridian.

➢ The commutator keys are used now.

➢ The rheostat should be adjusted for deflection in the tangent

galvanometer between 10 and 60.

➢ For a current I, the deflections of the pointer θ1 and θ2 are noted.

➢ The commutator is reversed and the deflections of the pointer θ3 and θ4

are noted.

➢ The average of the four readings is the deflection θ.

➢ By varying the current, the experiment is repeated. Using a string, the

circumference of the coil is measured. Hence its radius is found. Let n be
the number of turns of the coil. The horizontal intensity at the place is
given by Bh=μ0nK/2r.
 OBSERVATION

S.No Ammeter Deflection in Tangent Galvanometer Mean K=I/tan

Reading (θ) θ
(A) Θ1 Θ2 Θ3 Θ4

1. 0.15 35 35 35 35 35 0.2142
2. 0.20 49 47 60 64 53.6 0.1474
3. 0.25 36 36 55 58 46.25 0.2389
4. 0.30 50 50 65 68 58.2 0.1860
5. 0.27 45 45 64 65 53.8 0.1976

CALCULATION

Mean K = 0.19682

➢ The reduction factor of tangent galvanometer = 0.19682

➢ Number of turns of the coil = 50
➢ Circumference of the coil(S) = 2pir = 50.49 cm
➢ Radius of the coil r = S/2pi = 8.04 x 10-2 cm
➢ Horizontal intensity at the place Bh= μ0nK/2r
=2pinK x 10-7/r
= 7.6867 x 10-8 T
For different values of current I, the deflections are noted, and values are
calculated. Knowing K, n and r the value of horizontal intensity Bh can be
calculated.
 RESULT

➢ The reduction factor of the Tangent Galvanometer, K = 0.19682 A

➢ Horizontal Intensity at the place, Bh = 7.6867 x 10-8 T

After conducting the experiment and measuring the angle of deflection

for different known currents, the following results are typically obtained:
• As the current increases, the angle of deflection also increases.
• The relationship between tan(θ) and the current I is linear, confirming the
tangent law.
• By plotting tan(θ) against the current I, a straight-line graph is obtained,
from which the current can be calculated based on the known values of θ\
and the constant K.

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 30° and 60°.

 CONCLUSION

The Tangent Galvanometer experiment effectively demonstrates the principles

of electromagnetism, particularly the interaction between the magnetic field
produced by an electric current and the Earth's magnetic field. By applying the
tangent law, which relates the deflection angle of the magnetic needle to the
current flowing through the coil, we were able to determine the current based on
the measured deflection.

The results of the experiment confirmed that the relationship between the
tangent of the angle of deflection and the current is linear. This was supported
by the experimental data, where increasing the current led to a proportional
increase in the deflection angle. The experiment highlighted the practical
application of the tangent law and allowed us to calculate the current by
determining the deflection angle and using the appropriate formula.

Overall, the Tangent Galvanometer serves as a reliable and accurate instrument

for measuring small currents and provides valuable insight into the relationship
between electricity and magnetism. The experiment not only reinforces
theoretical concepts but also enhances practical understanding of how current-
induced magnetic fields interact with external magnetic fields.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

➢ https://www.britannica.com/science/geomagnetic-field
➢ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
➢ https://www.slideshare.net/
➢ https://www.scribd.com/
➢ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/