To convert a galvanometer into an ammeter, you need to add a shunt resistor in parallel with the galvanometer. Here’s how you can do it:
### Materials Needed:
1. **Galvanometer** (with a known full-scale deflection current, \(I_g\))
2. **Shunt resistor** (\(R_s\))
3. **Resistor calculation tools** (e.g., a multimeter, if you need to measure resistance)
### Steps:
1. **Determine the Full-Scale Current of the Galvanometer**:
- Find out the current (\(I_g\)) that gives full-scale deflection on the galvanometer.
2. **Decide the Range of the Ammeter**:
- Determine the maximum current (\(I\)) that you want the ammeter to measure.
3. **Calculate the Shunt Resistor**:
- Use the formula for shunt resistance:
\[
R_s = \frac{R_g \cdot I_g}{I - I_g}
\]
- Here, \(R_g\) is the internal resistance of the galvanometer.
4. **Connect the Shunt Resistor**:
- Connect the shunt resistor in parallel with the galvanometer. This allows most of the current to bypass the galvanometer, protecting it from high currents.
5. **Calibration (Optional)**:
- If precision is needed, you may need to calibrate the ammeter with known current values.
### Example:
- If the galvanometer has a full-scale deflection at 1 mA and you want to measure up to 10 A, with an internal resistance of 100 ohms, the shunt resistor would be calculated as follows:
\[
R_s = \frac{100 \cdot 0.001}{10 - 0.001} \approx 0.010001 \, \text{ohms}
\]
- Choose a suitable resistor (like 0.01 ohms) that can handle the power dissipated.
### Important Note:
Make sure the shunt resistor can handle the power without overheating. The power rating can be calculated using \(P = I^2 \cdot R_s\).
This setup will allow the galvanometer to function as an ammeter, accurately measuring currents up to the specified range.