Exploration Equipment:Galvanometer, Bar magnet, Small coils, 3V/9V DC power supply, Iron rod, Key switch, Magnetic field sensor
Equipment Warnings:
*Be very careful with the magnets. Keep them away from the computers as they can damage computers, monitors, and especially floppy disks!
*Be sure to never connect a galvanometer into a circuit with a power supply.
Introduction to the galvanometer A galvanometer can be used to detect smalldc currents. The deflection of the
needle is proportional to the current flowing through it. Typically they measure a
maximum range of the order of microamperes (mA) and therefore you must be
careful never to hook a galvanometer into a circuit where it may be subjected to a
larger current.
Open a Word file to record the answers to the questions in the following
activities.
Obtain a bar magnet. Describe briefly the magnetic field that is produced by this
magnet.
Examine one of the coils. Explain what would happen if you ran a current
through this coil. Would there be a magnetic field? If so, how would the
magnetic field lines look?
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