demonstration galvanometer with moving magnet
Date1910-1930
Inventory Number0235
ClassificationGalvanometer
Subject
Maker
American
?
User
Jefferson Physical Laboratory, Harvard University
founded 1884
Cultural Region
Dimensions54 × 40.5 × 24 cm (21 1/4 × 15 15/16 × 9 7/16 in.)
Material
DescriptionOversized galvanometer with moving magnet in large oval coil wound on wooden frame with two sets of brass binding posts on one side and two sets of binding posts on the bottom. Long needle attached to magnet. Large arc-shaped scale above graduated from 40-0-40. Supported on brass column with painted black tripod base with three leveling screws.
Signedunsigned
Inscribedstamped on base: 8-50
painted on base: EM
Curatorial RemarksStamped "8-50" ("EM" for electromagnetism, painted on base indicates use as Jefferson Laboratory lecture prop, kept in "set-up" for that purpose).
FunctionThis galvanometer was used in classroom demonstrations to measure electric currents. A compass needle is pivoted in the middle of a coil. Passing a current through the coil exerts a torque on the needle, which then aligns itself with the resulting magnetic field.
ProvenanceFrom the Jefferson Laboratory, Department of Physics, Harvard University, 12/12/1956.
American
Date: 1890-1930
Object number: 0155a,b,c,d
American
Date: circa 1915
Accessories: Extra case of coils and extra set of magnets (0154d). Three extra magnets (3 bar magnets and 2 bar magnets attached to an aluminum wire) are not numbered because of size.
Object number: 0154a,b,c
