Vibration Galvanometer – Types – Working Principle – Construction – Theory 

Vibration Galvanometer

Vibration galvanometers are the ac galvanometers used to measure alternating current and electromotive force (EMF) of various circuits. These galvanometers are also used as tuned detectors in the power frequency and low audio-frequency ranges. Vibration galvanometers are designed to use as detectors for the measurement of frequency from 5Hz to 1000 Hz. These galvanometers are highly sensitive for the frequency range under 200 Hz. These galvanometers are most commonly used as null detectors in ac bridges.

Types of Vibration Galvanometer

Vibration galvanometer consists of one type mentioned below:

Moving Coil type Vibration Galvanometer

Construction of Moving Coil type Galvanometer         

Moving Coil type Vibration galvanometer consists of a moving coil between the poles of permanent magnets. The frequency oscillation of the coil is very high. This high value is achieved by using the control constant of a large range and a moving system of small inertia. It consists of two suspension wires consisting of a strip of a phosphor-bronze. These two suspensions carry the coil and a mirror.

Working Principle of Moving Coil Type Galvanometer          

The beam of light is produced on the mirror M and this beam is deflected on the scale. When alternating current is passed through the coil, an alternating torque is produced which acts on a reflected light and the reflected spot of light is drawn out in the form of a band of light. The natural frequency of oscillation of a coil overlaps with the supply frequency due to resonance and the length of the band of light is maximum. The resonance curve of the vibration galvanometer is sharply peaked due to low damping. Its deflection is very small when the frequency of applied current differs by a small amount from its resonance frequency.

Theory of Vibration Galvanometer

If The current passing through the galvanometer is, then the motion of the coil is:

Where G is the deflection constant and D is the damping constant.

Where J is the Inertia constant.

The phase angle φ has no significance and is eliminated by squaring and adding in Eq. 2 and 3.

This equation represents the amplitude A of the resulting oscillation for a sinusoidal alternating current of peak value (Im) flowing through the moving coil of the galvanometer.

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