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what does a galvanometer measure

A galvanometer measures electric current – specifically, small currents and their direction in a circuit.

What a galvanometer measures

  • It detects the presence of current in a circuit.
  • It measures the magnitude (how big the current is) of small electric currents.
  • It also shows the direction of current flow (which way the current is going) by the direction of the pointer’s deflection.

So if you’re answering an exam or quiz for “what does a galvanometer measure,” the precise phrase is:

It measures the magnitude and direction of electric current.

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