how does a galvanometer use a magnetic field to indicate the strength of an electric current

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How does a galvanometer use a magnetic field to indicate the strength of an electric current?​

1 Answer

  1. Answer:

    A moving coil galvanometer consists of a coil suspended in a uniform magnetic field B with the normal from the plane of the coil perpendicular to the magnetic field. The ends of the coil are connected to the circuit where the current is to be detected.

    • Let NA be the number of turns and area of cross-section of the coil.
    • When some current I flows through the coil, the coil becomes an electromagnet of dipole moment μ=NIAμ=NIA.
    • The uniform magnetic field B exerts a torque on the coil and the torque is τ=(NIA)Bsinθτ=(NIA)Bsin⁡θ.
    • Here θθ is the angle between the magnetic field and the normal from the plane of the coil.

    The torque produced in the coil deflects the coil in the direction of the magnetic field and the deflection is proportional to the torque and the torque in turn proportional to the current through the coil. In a galvanometer deflection of the coil is calibrated for different currents and the calibrated scale can be used to measure the strength of the current. A galvanometer is used for the detection of small currents only.

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