A measuring instrument in which current or voltage is determined by the couple on a small coil pivoted between the poles of a magnet with curved poles, giving a radial magnetic field. When a current flows through the coil it turns against a return spring. If the angle through which it turns is α, the current I is given by I=kα/BAN, where B is the magnetic flux density, A is the area of the coil and N is its number of turns; k is a constant depending on the strength of the return spring. The instrument is suitable for measuring d.c. but can be converted for a.c. by means of a rectifier network. It is usually made as a galvanometer and converted to an ammeter or voltmeter by means of a shunt or a multiplier.