CH - ELECTRIC CURRENT AND ITS EFFECTS

Q1) What is an electric circuit?

Ans – A continuous conducting path (consisting of wires, bulbs, switch etc) between the two
terminals of a cell or battery along which an electric cell flows is called an electric circuit.

Q2) Name the three effects produced by electric current?

Ans – Three effects are heating effect, magnetic effect and chemical effect.

Q3) Name the material used as: a) filament of an electric bulb, b) heating element of an electric
heater.
Ans –
a) Tungsten, b) Nichrome

Q4) Do batteries used in trucks and inverters are also made from cells?
Ans – Yes, these are batteries made from cells called storage cells. They are different from ordinary
cells as storage cells can be recharged.

Q5) Name three appliances where heating effect of current is used.

Ans – Heating appliances like electric heater, electric bulb, fuse

Q6) Name the factors on which heat produced by a current carrying wire depends
Ans –
i) Material of wire: Copper wire, Silver wire, Aluminium wire offers less resistance while nichrome
wire offers greater resistance
ii) Length of wire: Shorter wire offers less resistance than longer wire
iii)Thickness of wire: thicker wire offers less resistance than thinner wire
iv)Magnitude of current: greater the current passed through a given wire, greater will be the
resistance

Q7) Name the scientist who proved that electric current flowing through a wire produces magnetic
effect.
Ans - Hans Christian Ørsted

Q8) Give symbol for: a) cells b) bulb c) battery d) wire e) switch on and off position
Ans –

a. Cells - b. Bulb -

c. Battery - d. Wire -

e. Switch on position f. Switch off position

Q9 What does the circuit shown in figure (a) and (b) indicate
Ans-
a. Switch is in off position, circuit is open, current does not flow and therefore the bulb does not
glow
b. Switch is in on position, circuit is closed, current flows and therefore the bulb glows

Q10) Will a bulb glow when its filament is broken? Why or Why not?
Ans - No, because the circuit will be open. Such a bulb is called fused bulb

Q11) Why does filament of bulb start glowing?

Ans – When electric current passes through the very thin, high resistance filament of an electric
bulb, heat is produced in it. Due to this the filament of electric bulb gets heated to a very high
temperature and starts glowing.

Q12) What will happen to Nichrome wire when current is passed through the circuit?

Ans – It will become hot as it offers high resistance to current.

Q13) What precautions should we look for buying a CFL and why?
Ans – We should buy an ISI mark CFL as it gives assurance that the product is conforming to the
specifications mentioned and is energy efficient.

Q14) How does a fuse prevent damage to electrical appliance when excess of current flows in a
circuit?
Ans – The electric fuse consists of short, thin wire which is made up of a metal or an alloy and has
low melting point. It offers greater resistance than rest of the electric wiring in the house. When
current beyond the safety limit passes through it, it gets overheated, melts and breaks the circuit
preventing current from passing through it. This prevents buildings and appliances from possible
fires.

Q15) Give reasons

a. A lighted electric bulb connected to the mains should not be touched
Ans – As it is hot due to the heating effect of current and it may burn our hand.

b. CFLS are being encouraged to be used in place of bulbs.

Ans – 1. The fluorescent tube lights and compact fluorescent lamps do not have filaments. So they
do not waste electricity by producing heat and hence they are very power efficient. 2. They can be
fixed in ordinary bulb holders. 3. They are long lasting compared to bulbs.

c. MCBs are used in place of fuses in homes and offices now days.
Ans – 1. MCBs are most sensitive to current than fuses. They immediately detect any abnormality
(like excess current) and switch off/ break the electrical circuit automatically. This is reflected in the
tripping of the MCB. This prevents any permanent damage to electrical appliances and human
beings. The fault in the electrical circuit can be identified easily if MCB switch is used. In this case,
the off position needs to be found. However, in a fuse, the entire wire needs to be checked. The fuse
grip requires to be opened to identify the fault making the work a little more tedious.
2. Another advantage to using MCB is that power supply can be resumed almost immediately. The
switch needs to be pushed backed to the on position. In the case of a fuse, the whole wire will have
to be replaced first.
3. MCB can be used again and has minimal replacement and maintenance costs. This is not the case
with fuses where the whole apparatus may require replacement when fault is identified.

d. Elements of electric heater become red hot when connected to electric supply.
Ans – The heating element is made of high resistance nichrome wire. Therefore, when electric
current is passed through the electric heater then large amount of heat is produced in the heating
element due to which the heating element becomes red hot.

e. A compass needle gets deflected when placed near a current carrying wire.
Ans – The current carrying wire acts like a magnet. The compass needle is made of a thin magnet.
The magnetic field produced by the current carrying wire exerts a force on the compass needle and
deflects it. This is the magnetic effect of electric current.

f. A copper wire cannot be used to make the filament of an electric bulb

Ans – Electric bulb works on the principle of heating effect of electric current. Copper wire is a
good conductor of electricity and offers a low resistance to electric current. Therefore, it will not be
heated and will not glow and the bulb will not be lighted.

Q16. An electrician is carrying out some repairs in your house. He wants to replace a fuse by
piece of wire. Would you agree? Give reasons for your response.
Ans – No, I would not agree to allow replacing the fuse by a wire. Wires in the fuses are of specific
melting points and break when excessive electric current passes through it. If we use ordinary wire
as fuse, it increases the risk of overheating of wires due to flow of excessive current. It may lead to
short circuit in electric equipment and these appliances may catch fire. It is advised to use standard
ISI marked fuse or MCBs to prevent electrical accidents.

Q17 Explain principle and working of electric bell with the help of labelled circuit diagram of
electric bell.
Ans – Principle: It works on magnetic effect of current.
Working – Pressing of switch  current flows  electromagnet coil  pulls metal spring  gong
strikes  ringing sound
Pulling of metal spring  contact with screw breaks  electric circuit breaks

Q18.
a. What is an electromagnet?
Ans - A current carrying coil of an insulated wire wrapped around a piece of iron is called an
electromagnet.

b. Why do we use iron for making electromagnet and not steel?

Ans – Iron is used for making electromagnets because current is switched off in the coil of an
electromagnet made of iron piece, then the iron piece loses all its magnetism. Steel is not used
because when current is switched off, the steel piece does not lose all its magnetism. The steel piece
retains the magnetism and becomes a permanent magnet.

c. Write any three uses of electromagnet

Ans -
1. Electromagnets are used in the construction of a large number of devices like electric bells,
loudspeakers, electric motors, electric fans, toys and telephone instruments etc.
2. Electromagnets are used to separate magnetic materials like iron and steel objects from a
heap of metal scrap (or junk)
3. Electromagnets are used by doctors to remove tiny iron particles from the eyes of a person.
d. What are the factors on which the strength of electromagnet depends?
Ans – Strength of electromagnet depends upon three factors:
1. Electric current in the wire: More the electric current flowing greater will be the strength of
magnetic field
2. Number of turns in the wire: More the number of turns greater will be the strength of
magnetic field
3. Material of the core: Soft iron core will have greater magnetic field than wooden core

e. How electromagnet is different from a bar magnet?

Ans –
Sno Bar Magnet Electromagnet
1. Made of steel Made of soft iron
2. Poles cannot be reversed Poles can be reversed
3. It produces a permanent magnetic field It produces a temporary magnetic field
4. Strength of magnetic field cannot be Strength of magnetic field can be changed
changed
5. Does not need electric current to act as a Requires electric current to act as an
magnet electromagnet

Q19 a. What is short circuiting? b. What are the causes of short circuiting?
Ans –

Q20. Differentiate between open and closed circuit.

Ans –

Q21. Paheli took a wire of length 10 cm. Boojho took a wire of 5 cm of the same material and
thickness. Both of them connected the wires as shown in the circuit given in Figure.The
current flowing in both the circuits is the same.
a. Will the heat produced in both the cases be equal? Explain.
b. Will the heat produced be the same if the wires taken by them are of equal lengths
but of different thickness? Explain.

Ans – a. No, the heat produced in both the cases will be different. Long wire offers greater
resistance, hence gets heated up more. Short wire offers less resistance, hence does not get much
heated. Therefore, Paheli’s wire (10 cm) will be more heated than Boojho’s wire (5 cm)
b. No, the heat produced in the both the cases will be different. Thin wire offers greater resistance,
hence gets heated up more. Thick wire will offers less resistance, hence does not get much heated.

Extra Question:
Circuit diagram – A diagram which tells us how the various components in a circuit have been
connected by using the electrical symbols of the components is called a circuit diagram.