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Photonics Dictionary

galvanometer

A galvanometer is an instrument used for detecting and measuring small electric currents. It typically consists of a coil of wire suspended in a magnetic field, with a pointer attached to the coil. When an electric current flows through the coil, it generates a magnetic field that interacts with the external magnetic field, causing the coil to rotate. This rotation is proportional to the strength of the current passing through the coil.

Galvanometers can be used in various applications, including:

Ammeters: Galvanometers can be calibrated to measure electric current directly by placing a shunt resistor in parallel with the coil to divert most of the current away from it.

Voltmeters: By using a series resistor in conjunction with the coil, galvanometers can measure voltage indirectly through the current induced in the coil by the voltage across the resistor.

Galvanometer-based instruments: Galvanometers are also used in instruments such as oscilloscopes and seismographs, where they serve as sensitive detectors of small electrical or mechanical signals.

Modern galvanometers may use digital or electronic components for signal processing and display, but they still rely on the fundamental principles of coil rotation in a magnetic field to measure current.
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