Make Your Own Galvanometer!

A Galvanometer is a device which is used to detect the presence of very small electric currents. It can also be used to find out the direction in which the current is flowing. Now you can make your own galvanometer with materials easily available in a household!

Step 1: Step 1 : Gathering the Materials

You will need the following things

1. An empty matchbox

2. A small magnetic compass

3. A long piece of insulated copper wire

Tools

1. Scissors

2. Some tape

Step 2: Step 2 : Cutting the Matchbox

Put the compass inside the match box. Now take it out and cut a small portion of the matchbox's top, so that you can see the compass inside it.

After this, you can affix the compass inside the matchbox using tape, or glue.

Step 3: Step 3 : Making the Coil

Make the coil by wrapping the copper wire around the matchbox. Make sure that you can see the compass needle inside it. Leave the two ends of the copper wire in such a way that it sticks out. Secure the wire using tape or something.

Step 4: Step 4 : Finished!

Try connecting the two ends of the wire in a cell, you will see a deflection in the compass needle. It deflects more if more current is passed through the wires. This instrument can be used to detect very small currents in a DC circuit.

Your galvanometer is ready!