ballistic galvanometer

American  

noun

Electricity.

1. a galvanometer used to measure the quantity of electricity in a current of short duration.

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ballistic galvanometer British  

noun

1. physics a type of galvanometer for measuring surges of current. After deflection the instrument returns slowly to its original reading

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Etymology

Origin of ballistic galvanometer

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Upon giving the armature an angular motion limited by two stops, there develops a certain quantity of electricity that may be measured by causing it to traverse an appropriate ballistic galvanometer.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 441, June 14, 1884. by Various

The ends of this coil were carried to a distant part of the laboratory, and connected to a sensitive ballistic galvanometer.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 787, January 31, 1891 by Various

Various instruments called permeameters and hysteresis meters have been designed for this purpose, but much of the work has been done by means of a ballistic galvanometer and test ring as above described.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 2 "Ehud" to "Electroscope" by Various