Galvanometer, voltage drop readings

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around understanding how a galvanometer measures voltage drop across resistors in a DC circuit. When connected in parallel with a resistor, the galvanometer measures a fraction of the main circuit current, leading to a deflection proportional to the voltage drop. The key question raised is why the deflection differs for various resistors despite a constant series current, which is attributed to changes in the circuit's effective resistance when the galvanometer is introduced. Participants note that while a galvanometer has high resistance to minimize circuit alteration, it still affects the overall current slightly. The thread concludes with a request for a clearer explanation of galvanometer function in relation to electric fields.
mejo.gejo
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i have problem to conceptualize this old galvanometer readings for voltage drop. i plot a diagram of circuit of interest for bether explanation of what's bothering me.

so, in DC circuit with some resistor in series, electric current is constant and is of some known value. and if i want to use galvanometer to determine voltage drop on resistors, than it is enough (is it?) to plug it in parallel with resistor. than fraction (lesser the better) of main circuit current will loop into galvanometer and deflect scale. once we have deflection, by knowing galvanometer resistance, we know interpret that as voltage drop.
if we repeat measuring on R2, again litle fraction of main current enters galvanometer and again deflection is there.

my question is why is deflection on galvanometer diferent on diferent resistors if the series current is constant and equal trough all resistors?
or, why is fraction of main circuit current which enters galvanometer, diferent on diferent resistor if the electric filed is constant trough wire?
 

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I believe it is because you are turning one of the resistors into a parallel circuit and changing the resistance of that part of the circuit. Since the current through the circuit is equal to the voltage divided by the total resistance, changing the resistance of the circuit will alter the current. I'm not experienced with circuits, but wouldn't it be detrimental to the circuit to plug the meter in parallel and alter the current?
 
Drakkith said:
I believe it is because you are turning one of the resistors into a parallel circuit and changing the resistance of that part of the circuit. Since the current through the circuit is equal to the voltage divided by the total resistance, changing the resistance of the circuit will alter the current. I'm not experienced with circuits, but wouldn't it be detrimental to the circuit to plug the meter in parallel and alter the current?

well, the whole point is to make readings without making any changes in circuit( that's the reason for big galvanometer resistance) so, that's not my answer.
thx on reply.
 
mejo.gejo said:
well, the whole point is to make readings without making any changes in circuit( that's the reason for big galvanometer resistance) so, that's not my answer.
thx on reply.

Ah, ok. I didn't know a galvanometer had a very large resistance. Anyways, I think my answer still applies. You will affect the circuit, but with a very large resistance the current will only change a very small amount.
 
Drakkith said:
Ah, ok. I didn't know a galvanometer had a very large resistance. Anyways, I think my answer still applies. You will affect the circuit, but with a very large resistance the current will only change a very small amount.

trust me, you can get nothing better from altering initial situation. there is some obvious explanation, but my brain is tilted right know and is of no use.

i am looking for someone who know explain to me galvanometer in terms of electric field , something like this:
http://galaxy.cofc.edu/rcircuits.html"
 
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Alright, sorry I couldn't help.
 
It may be shown from the equations of electromagnetism, by James Clerk Maxwell in the 1860’s, that the speed of light in the vacuum of free space is related to electric permittivity (ϵ) and magnetic permeability (μ) by the equation: c=1/√( μ ϵ ) . This value is a constant for the vacuum of free space and is independent of the motion of the observer. It was this fact, in part, that led Albert Einstein to Special Relativity.

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