S.Y.

Resistance of a Galvanometer G by shunting Gr -II

Aim : To measure the resistance of the Galvanometer G by shunting using half deflection
method .
Apparatus : Mirror galvanometer, tap key, battery, two plug keys, reversing key, high resistance
box (R), shunt resitance box (S), connecting wires etc.,
Circuit Diagram :
ES

P Q

Theory:
𝐸𝑆 𝑃
Voltage drop across resistance P=E=
𝑃+𝑄

Here, current will flows through the circuit when key k1 is closed and k2 is open. The current
flowing through the galvanometer is proportional to the deflection in it.

Where E - emf of the cell , R - resistance from the resistance box , G - galvanometer resistance
for current I
θ - galvanometer deflection for current I,k – proportionality constant called figure of merit.

When k2 is closed and by adjusting the shunt resistance S, we can make galvanometer deflection
as θ/2.
Then the current in the circuit is ;

Now, a fraction, S/ (G+S) of the current in the circuit is flows through the galvanometer, which is
given by,
Now, from the above relations, we can get the resistance of the given galvanometer as,

Procedure :
1. Connect the apparatus as shown in the circuit diagram. Adjust it so that the
image of vertical cross wire of the spot coincides with the zeroth division of
the scale initially.
2. Make sure that plugs of the resistance boxes are tight.
3. Take out a high resistance from the resistance boxes Q and R but very small
value from P and insert the key k1. Keep K2 open.
4. Adjust the resistance from this resistance boxes to get large galvanometer
deflection.
5. Note the deflection and record it as θ in the tubular column.
6. Insert the key k2 also, without changing the value on the resistance box.
7. Now, adjust the resistance from the S such that galvanometer shows
deflection which is exactly half of the θ.
8. Record the value of low resistance box.
9. We can repeat the experiment by changing the value of high resistance R
and adjusting low resistance S.
10. The resistance of the given galvanometer can be calculated each time by
using the relation G= RS/(R-S).
Observation Table :

Shunt Resistance, Galvanometer

No. Resistance, R ( Deflection in the
) resistance
galvanometer, Half defln,
S( ) G= RS/(R-S) ( )

Result : Resistance of Galvanometer is ………………..