Galvanometer |
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A galvanometer is a moving coil micro-amp meter named after Luigi Galvano the Italian who experimented with the twitching of recently dead frogs legs; the first observation of the effect of an electric current from a cell made from two dissimilar metals (our interpretation - not his). Galvanometers have largely been replaced in recent years by digital micro-ammeters, pico-ammeters etc. that are more robust and consequently more reliable. |
| A ballistic galvanometer (with very light suspension and consequent slow response time) is calibrated (at maximum deflection) to register the charge that flowed through the meter in a short pulse. Ballistic galvanometers were used with search coils to measure magnetic field strength. The measurement is now made with a Hall probe. |