A galvanometer can detect electric currents.One can be used to measure and study electrical currents.Once you have built your galvanometer, you can use a battery to test it out.
Step 1: You can choose a compass.
A compass has a needle.A magnetic field interacts with the needle to allow you to detect electrical currents.The most effective compass is meant for navigation.Rather than a toy, it is designed to align to the earth's magnetic field.You can buy a compass at an outdoor recreation store.
Step 2: Wrap the compass around.
A thin, insulated copper wire can be used.The tighter the wire is around the compass, the more turns you will get.A stronger magnetic field is produced when more turns are made around the compass.You should leave at least two leads, one on either end of the wire.Home improvement and hardware stores have copper wire.
Step 3: Prepare the ends of the wire.
You should use wire strippers to remove insulation from both ends of the wire, leaving an inch of wire exposed.Make sure the wire is clean by gently sanding it.You can't see the films or chemicals that are coating the wires.It can affect the flow of electricity if you don't sand it off.
Step 4: A battery has a positive terminal.
The batteries create an electrical gradient.One side of the battery is positive and the other is negative.The sides are separated by something.You can create a path for this charge to move by touching your wire to both sides.Touch one end of the wire to the positive terminal.The positive terminal will be marked with a sign.Gloves prevent shocks or burns.
Step 5: Go to the battery's negative terminal.
The charge in the battery will flow if this is done.An electrical current is called a flowing charge.Touch the second wire end to the negative terminal and hold the first wire on the positive to create this current.To stop the current, remove either end.There is a negative sign on the negative terminal of the battery.
Step 6: Look at the needle.
A magnetic field will be created when you generate an electric current.The needle in the compass will move if there is a magnetic field.You can detect an electrical current when the needle moves.The battery and wires will be very hot in a few seconds.You can watch the compass spin by leaving the wire connected to the battery.
Step 7: Read about the experiment.
The first to show that magnetic fields were caused by electrical current was Hans Christian Oersted.A galvanometer was built using copper wire and a compass to show how the needle moved.This is the science of galvanometers.
Step 8: Consider that magnetic fields are not static.
Magnetic fields have a direction and a magnitude.The direction governs how and where the needle moves.The field's magnitude can affect how fast the needle moves.If you line the compass needle parallel to the coil then turn on the current, the needle will be repelled.
Step 9: Look at how similar charges repel each other.
To recreate the way that the needle moves away from the coiled wire, you can put two magnets together with the same end facing each other.The copper wire will repel the like charges and push them away from each other.