moving-coil meter

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

A moving-coil meter is an instrument operated by the force on an electric-current-carrying coil suspended in a magnetic field. This type of meter is used in devices like galvanometers and frequency meters.123

In a frequency meter, a moving-coil mechanism can operate by balancing opposing forces. It has two coils tuned to different frequencies and connected at a right angle. When the frequency to be measured changes, it causes an imbalance in the currents within these coils, which in turn moves a pointer on a scale to indicate the frequency.3

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

frequency meter
…electrically resonant circuit is a moving-coil meter. In one version, this device possesses two coils tuned to different frequencies and connected at right angles to one another in such a way that the whole element, with attached pointer, can move. Frequencies in the middle of the meter’s range cause the…
Read More
…electrically resonant circuit is a moving-coil meter. In one version, this device possesses two coils tuned to different frequencies and connected at right angles to one another in such a way that the whole element, with attached pointer, can move. Frequencies in the middle of the meter’s range cause the…
Read More