Question

Does the galvanometer show direction of current?

Answer 1

Hint: If more current will be produced in the circuit, then a large deflection of the pointer will be shown in the galvanometer. The deflection of the galvanometer needle indicates the presence of current in the coil. The direction of deflection of the needle gives us the direction of flow of current.

Complete step by step answer:
The device which is used to detect the presence of current in the given circuit is known as the galvanometer. We can also have a moving coil galvanometer and the working of moving coil galvanometer is based on the fact that when the coil that is carrying current is kept in a uniform magnetic field then it experiences a torque.
 A galvanometer is a kind of electric motor which works on the principle of Fleming’s left-hand rule and the direction of current can be obtained by Fleming’s left-hand rule. The speed of deflection gives us the rate at which the current is induced.
A galvanometer can be converted into an ammeter if we connect a small resistance in parallel to it which is known as shunt resistance. An ammeter is also known as a low resistance galvanometer and an ammeter is also used to measure current in the circuit.
When a high resistance is connected in series with the galvanometer then a galvanometer can be converted into a voltmeter. A voltmeter is used to measure the potential difference in the circuit and a voltmeter is a high resistance galvanometer.
When we connect the galvanometer to the solenoid and when the current flows through the solenoid then a deflection on the left-hand side is shown in the galvanometer. The current in the solenoid flows in the clockwise direction and hence deflection will be shown on the left-hand side.
So, from the above information, we can conclude that a galvanometer can also show us the direction of the current.

Note:
To know the effectiveness of the galvanometer, its sensitivity should be measured. If a galvanometer shows large deflection for a small current then it is said to be more sensitive and if it shows small deflection for a large current then it is said that the galvanometer is less sensitive.