The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 12 letter word GALVANOMETER
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
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More clues leading to the result GALVANOMETER
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "device in physics lab" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case device in physics lab = galvanometer.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does GALVANOMETER mean?
GALVANOMETER noun- A device used to indicate the presence and direction of a small electric current, especially used to detect a null or balanced condition in a bridge circuit.