What is a Galvanometer?
As a device for creating accurate measurements, the galvanometer has been with us since the early 19th century. While not the latest in technology, there are still a number of devices that utilize galvanometer technology to measure electricity in a number of settings. Here is some background on the galvanometer, as well as some examples of how the instrument has been used through the years. As a form of ammeter, the galvanometer is a device that is all about taking accurate measurements. While different types of ammeters will measure various sorts of energy, the purpose of the galvanometer is focused on measuring electric current in both the body and in manufacturing and agricultural settings. Driving its name for Luigi Galvani, who is said to have designed the first prototype of the instrument, the galvanometer is more usually associated with William Thomason, who experimented with the unit to expand the number of common uses for the device. Johann Schweigger noted his work at the Uni
First created by French physicist Jacques-Arsene d’Arsonval(1851-1940) in 1882, a galvanometer is simply a fancy-looking word for a device created by putting coiled wire into a permanent magnetic field and attaching it to a spring and calibrated dial. In layman’s terms, it’s that box with the red needle that functions as a voltmeter. Let’s have a look at the basic galvanometer. http://chem.ch.huji.ac.il/~eugeniik/instruments/test/galvanometer_scheme4.jpg A galvanometer can also be modified to become an ammeter which is used to measure larger currents. But when using such a device to measure voltage, the galvanometer turned voltmeter is connected in parallel with the area it is measuring from, like so: http://www.tuitionplaza.com/bb/uploads/Momento/2005-06-28_172659_circuit.gif Because the voltmeter must be attached to the circuit in parallel, it needs to be constructed in such a way that it has very high resistance. In a circuit, current will always choose the “path of least resistance
