Hello, friends, I hope you all are doing great. In today’s tutorial, we will discuss the Difference Between Galvanometer & Ammeter. The basic difference between a galvanometer and an ammeter is that the galvanometer displays the measured current direction as well as magnitude but ammeter only displays the magnitude of the current. There is a moving coil in the galvanometer that moves between the permanent magnets. After the flow of current through the coil, it shows deflection. The rotation of the coil and the current passing through the coil is in direct relation to each other.
A galvanometer can be used as an ammeter if the resistance is attached in parallel combination with the galvanometer circuit and if resistance is attached in series combination it will operate like a voltmeter. There is another name of an ammeter which is the ampere meter. it is due to the current unit which is ampere. To measure the value of the current ammeter is connected in series combination. In today’s post, we will have a detailed look at both galvanometer and ammeter and compare them to find their differences. So let’s get started with Difference Between a Galvanometer & Ammeter.
Difference Between Galvanometer & Ammeter
Galvanometer
- A galvanometer is an instrument used to measure the current.
- Its operation is that when current passes in it its needle moves to show the value of the current
- It is considered an actuator
- It has a feature to measure the small value current that can be measured through an ammeter.
- It is a mechanical instrument.
- For operation, it needed a magnetic field.
- It is less accurate than the ammeter.
- It can measure only DC current.
- It is more sensitive than the ammeter.
- Its main parts are the moving coil, suspension, and torsion head.
- Its operation and function are normally based on the constant value of the magnetic field.
- For constant and uniform fields permanent magnet is used
- Its common typs are tangent galvanometer, mirror galvanometer, ballistic galvanometer
- It is used in bridge circuitry and potentiometers for current measurements.
Ammeter
- The device that measures the current passing in the circuitry is called an ammeter.
- The resistance offered by the ammeter is less than the voltmeter.
- To increase, the measuring range of the meter there should be resistance called shunt show connected to the ammeter in parallel combination.
- It normally has a feature to operate for less voltage range normally single volts or less
- The circuit for which the current is measured ammeter is attached in a series combination.
- Its accuracy is larger than the voltmeter.
- Its range can not be varied.
- It should link to supply since it has less value of resistance and can be damaged due to large current flow.
- Some meter has a range of a few mA of currents.
Applications of Ammeter
- An ammeter is used in laboratory workshops for measuring current in circuits. It is used for circuit analysis.
- It is used in a power system for monitoring current in different components of the circuit. it helps to maintain balanced loads and ensure sure safety of the electrical system
- It is used for monitoring vehicles and battery discharging. It offers details about the condition of vehicles and the performance of the alternator.
- It is used for the integration of different machines for monitoring current drawn through motors and other components. It helps to maintain and ensure effective working.
- It is also used for residential loads and checking the power use of devices connected. That helps to check energy use.
- The main benefit of an ammeter is to measure current properly. It offers a direct value of current in a circuit.
Applications of Galvanometer
- It is used for measuring the strength of the field. Through cooperating with coils and magnets galvanometers measure variation in magnetic flux and offer values directly related to field strength.
- galvanometers work as null detectors in Wheatstone Bride Circuit and other birdes configurations. it shows that bride is balanced and helps to provide resistance values.
- galvanometers is used as basic tools for experiments for measuring current. it used for detection and measuring weak eclectic current in different setups.
- It used for measuring the electrical resistivity of earth materials. It is best for applications such as environmental studies.
The difference between Galvanometer and Ammeter
Ammeter
- An ammeter is used for measuring current flow in a circuit
- The ammeter has features to find value of the magnitude of electric current.
- it has zero position denoted on the left side of the scale.
- It is an Electromechanical device (analog ammeter) or electronic device (digital ammeter).
- It operated with or without a magnetic field
- It as high accuracy than galvanometer
- It is less sensitive devices
- It used as a voltmeter
- It measures ac and dc
- It not used a galvanometer
Galvanometer
- It is an electrotechnical measuring device used for finding the direction and strength of the current.
- It is used for showing the magnetitic and direction of current in the circuit
- Its zero is marked on the central point
- It is an electromechanical device.
- it only measures DC
- It needed a magnetic field to measure the current
- It has less accuracy
- It has high accuracy
- It is used as an ammeter through the connection of small resistance in parallel combination.
- it can used as a voltmeter through the connection of resistance in series
- bridge circuits and a potentiometer for the detection of zero current its common uses
What are the advantages of galvanometer over ammeter?
- Galvanometers operate in the simple function that coils with the current in a magnetic field faces rotation or force. One main benefit of a galvanometer over that it can have high sensitivity. The accuracy and flexibility are also high and not affected by magnetic fields.
Which has more resistance ammeter or the galvanometer?
- galvanometer has high resistance than an ammeter. Since comes with a shunt in parallel with coil of the galvanometer.
Why ammeter have infinite resistance?
- It is zero infinite. The ideal ammeter resistance must be equal to zero so the ammeter measures the correct value of current through the circuit. A voltmeter is a device used for measuring the potential difference between two points in an electric circuit.
What is the principle of galvanometer?
- Moving coil galvanometer operated on the principle that current carrying coil faces torque when put in field. Since current is passed through coil, torque operates on it and that deflects the coil
That is a detailed post about the difference between an ammeter and a galvanometer if you have any queries ask in the comments. Thanks for reading. Have a good day.