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EXPERIMENT NO. 8
Helmholtz galvanometer
AIM - To study the variation of magnetic field with distance along the axis of Helmholtz galvanometer and to estimate the radius of the coil. APPARATUS - Helmholtz galvanometer, magnetometer compass box, ammeter (measure mA), battery eliminator, rheostat, commutator, plug ey, connecting wires. THEORY! The term Helmholtz coils refers to a device for producing a region of nearly uniform magnetic field. "t is named in honor of #erman physicist Hermann von Helmholtz. "t consists of two identical circular magnetic coils that are placed symmetrically parallel to each other and on a common axis, z! axis. The rings have radius r and they are separated by a distance e$ual to or slightly larger than r. %ach coil carries an e$ual electrical current flowing in same direction.

Helmholtz coils The first step to calculate the field of a pair of Helmholtz coil is to calculate magnetic field intensity & produced by each ring. "f a current (") is allowed to flow through a wire of length ( l ), and the wire is bent into an arc of radius r, then the magnetic field intensity (&) at center of the arc is

' Il (*) ) r ( where ' + permeability of free space (,.,-) x *'!*( &.m)
F= F=

&or a circular coil of n turns we substitute l+(rn in e$uation (*)

/ow, substituting the value of ' in e$uation (() The magnetic field produced by each ring is given by

' In (r

(()

F=

( nI r *'0

(1)

The magnetic field at any point on axi at a di tance !x" f#om cente# of coil i

-$F= ( nIr ( *'0 ( x ( + r ( ) (


1

())

The #ate of %a#iation of magnetic field&

&igure(. 2agnetic field generated by a coil with radius (r) +*m.

&igure1. 2agnetic field generated by a pair of Helmholtz coils Therefore,


dF ( ( ( = 1x3(( nir )( x + r ) ( 4 dx 0 d (F ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( = 3 5 nir ( x + r ) x ( x + r ) 4 ( dx dF d (F = constant. &rom which, x = r , if = ' or ( ( dx dx dF = constant Thus at point x = r ( from center of coil, dx

6e observe that in figure1, the rate of increase of field due to one coil at midpoint between the coils is e$ual to the rate of decrease of field due to the other at the same point. Therefore if one moves away along the axis from the midpoint, any diminution in the intensity of the field due to one coil is compensated by the increase in the field due to the other so that the field between the coils is practically uniform.

-'The coil is placed in the magnetic meridian, the magnetic field due to the current " flowing in the coil is perpendicular to H (Horizontal component of earth7s magnetic field). Thus the magnetic needle is acted upon by two uniform magnetic fields & and H at right angles to each other. The magnetic needle will ma e an angle with H in the e$uilibrium position. According to tangent law8 & + H tan Therefore

tan =

(nIr (
1

/ote8 tan 9 " tan 9 *

*' 0 ( x ( + r ( ) (

(-)

r1

MA()ETOMETER* The magnetic compass box used in this experiment is called 2agnetometer. The red point in the magnetometer corresponds to /orth direction (:ed is analogous to positive terminal of electrical circuit.). Thus in absence of magnetic field the needles are in east west direction and while performing the experiment in order to avoid to the %arth7s horizontal magnetic field the bench of the Helmholtz galvanometer should be ept in east!west direction. PRO+E,URE*. The Helmholtz coils should be parallel to themselves and perpendicular to the bench and (. 1. ). -. at a distance e$ual to r ( on either side from center of the bench. 2agnet compass box is ept at ept at the center of the sliding bench, such that magnetic needle is at the center of the coils. The bench of the Helmholtz galvanometer should be ept in east!west direction ;ase of the coil is leveled with the help of spirit level and leveling screws. <onnections are made as shown in fig. ) using say -' turns of the coil and ta ing care that out of the four terminals provided on the commutator = any two diagonally opposite terminals are >oined to the galvanometer and the other two to the battery through rheostat.

&igure). <ircuit diagram

--5. Ad>ust the current in the coil with the help of rheostat such that the deflection in the magnetic needle is of the order of )- at center of bench for both direct and reverse current. 0. /ow move the compass box through ( cm and note the deflection in east and west direction of magnetometer for direct and reverse current respectively. ,. <ontinue to ta e readings till ?.!*- deflection is obtained in the compass box with respect to )-. @. :epeat the procedure for other side. *'. <alculate mean and find tan according to the observation table. **. Alot a graph ta ing x on x!axis and tan on y!axis respectively for each side. 2ar the points of inflection on the curve. The distance between the two points will be the diameter of the coil. *(. The circumference of the coil can be measured by a thread and its radius can be calculated to verify the value obtained from the graph O.SER/ATIO)S! S&n& ,e,eflection in the needle 1hen it i on one ide of 0ench of +2##ent one +2##ent the needle on 1ay #e%e# ed Po ition one cale& !,i tance of +ompa 0ox cente# coil" x !cm" *. (. 1. ). -. 5. 0. ,. @. ' ( ) 5 , *' *( *) *5 f#om of %ast end of needle 6est end of needle %ast end of needle 6est end of needle n of the

Mea !deg# ee"

Tan

-3*'. **. *(. *1. *). *-. *5. *, (' (( () (5 (, 1'

S&)o&

,e,eflection in the needle 1hen it i on othe# ide of of the needle 0ench +2##ent +2##ent #e%e# ed on one of the one 1ay Po ition cale& !,i tance of +ompa 0ox cente# coil" x !cm&" f#om of %ast end of needle 6est end of needle %ast end of needle 6est end of needle

Mea n

Tan

deg#

ee

*. (. 1. ). -. 5. 0. ,. @. *'.

' ( ) 5 , *' *( *) *5 *,

-4**. *(. *1. *). *-. *5. (' (( () (5 (, 1'

(RAPH*

west +A5+U5ATIO)-

east

<ircumference of the coil as obtained by a thread and meter scale + B..cm. :adius of the coil, as obtained from the graph + distance between the points A and ;. Its Circumference (

:adius of the coil, as obtained from measurement +

(5)

MA6IMUM PRO.A.5E ERROR*- This is obtained by ta ing logarithmic differentiation of e$uation (5) RESU5T8 ! *. The variation in the magnetic field with distance, along the axis of the given coil is as shown in the graph. (. :adius of the coil + CCCCCCCCCCcm. as obtained from the graph and CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCcm. as obtained from measurement.

PRE+AUTIO)S*. <onnections should be clean and tight.

-7(. <ircuit should be properly connected and chec ed before turning it DE/F. /o. of turns should be e$ual in both coils. 1. Alug ey should be used in circuit and it should not be closed while ma ing connections or ta ing reading. ). The coil should be ad>usted properly in the magnetic meridian. -. The apparatus should be at considerable distance from current carrying conductors and magnetic materials. 5. The positive mar ed terminal of the ammeter should be always connected to positive terminal of battery. 0. 6hile ta ing readings there can be error due to parallax which should be avoided. ,. :eadings at both ends of the pointer should be ta en. SOUR+ES O8 ERROR*. <onnections might not be tight. (. 2agnetic needle might not be pivoted at center. 1. #alvanometer coil might not be exactly in magnetic meridian.

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