Magnetic Effects of Current 1

MAGNETIC FIELD AND MAGNETIC FIELD LINES

The region or space around a magnet
where magnetic force can be experienced by other
magnetic substance is called magnetic field.

MAGNETIC FIELD AROUND A CURRENT-CARRYING

STRAIGHT CONDUCTOR
MAGNETIC LINES OF FORCE: The path along which the
In the year 1820 Danish Scientist H.C. Oersted
compass needles are aligned is known as magnetic lines of
showed that a magnetic needle gets deflected when
force.
placed near a current-carrying wire. Deflection of
PROPERTIES OF MAGNETIC LINES OF FORCE magnetic needle basically shows that a current-
carrying wire produces magnetic field.
1. Magnetic lines of force are closed continuous curves or
loops as shown in fig., but these seem to begin from the
North Pole and enter into South Pole.
2. Inside the magnet, lines of force are from south to north
whereas outside the magnet these are from north to
south as evident in fig.
3. The direction of magnetic field at a point is given by the
tangent drawn to the magnetic lines of force as shown
in fig
4. No two lines of force are found to intersect each other,
because if they did, then there would be two directions
at one point, which is not possible, as shown in fig..
Two directions of field at one point P, which is not
possible.
5. Density of magnetic lines of force in a given region
represents the relative strength of field i.e., if lines are
crowded, field will be stronger and if lines are not
crowded, field will be weaker as shown in fig.

Direction of magnetic field produced by

current-carrying straight conductor.
Direction of magnetic field produced
by current-carrying straight conductor can be
easily found with the help of ‘Right Hand Thumb
Rule’. According to this rule if we hold a conductor
in such a way that the stretched thumb is along
the direction of current. Then the curl of fingers
around the conductor gives direction of magnetic
field as shown in fig.(a)&(b). Magnitude of the field
produced due to a current-carrying conductor is
(a) directly proportional to current (I) and
(b) inversely proportional to distance of the point
from the conductor.
 Magnetic Effects of Current 2

MAGNETIC FIELD DUE TO CURRENT-CARRYING The magnitude of magnetic field produced by a

CIRCULAR WIRE OR CIRCULAR COIL current-carrying solenoid depends upon the following
factors:
(a) Number of turns (N). Magnetic field is directly
proportional to the number of turns.
Bµ N
(b) Current (I). Magnetic field is directly proportional
to the current flowing through the solenoid.
Bµ I
(c) Length of solenoid (l). Magnetic field is inversely
proportional to the length of solenoid.

B µ 1/l

(d) Material of core of solenoid. If material of core

has higher permeability (µ), then magnetic field
will be more. Materials like steel, soft iron have
higher permeability that is why these are used to
make core of solenoid. In fact, the magnetic field at
the centre of solenoid is given by
The magnitude of magnetic field due to current-carrying B = µNI/l
circular coil depends upon: Or B = µnI where n = N/l, number of turns
(i) Current through the coil. Magnitude of magnetic field per unit length.
is directly proportional to the current through it.
MAGNETIZATION OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL-
Magnetic field (B) µ Current (I) ELECTROMAGNETICS.
(ii) Number of turns of wire in the coil. Magnitude of
magnetic field is directly proportional to the number of Certain material when placed inside strong magnetic field
turns (N). gets magnetized and behaves like a magnet. When a rod of
soft iron is placed inside a solenoid and current is passed,
Bµ N the soft iron rod is magnetized but when current is made
zero, it gets demagnetized. But if rod is made of hard
(iii) Radius of circular coil. Magnitude of magnetic field is
steels, chromium steels or cobalt and tungsten steel
inversely proportional to the radius(r) of the coil.
then even if current is zero, the material retains its
B µ 1/r
magnetism, i.e., it becomes permanent magnet.
The direction of magnetic field in a circular coil can be
A solenoid with soft iron core is called an
found by a simple method, curl your fingers of the right
electromagnet. An electromagnet is basically a temporary
hand in the direction of current in the coil, then the
magnet that is as long as current flows in the solenoid it
extended thumb gives the direction of magnetic field as
behaves like a magnet. It works on the principle that the
shown in fig.
current-carrying coil produces magnetic field. When an
insulated wire is coiled over a soft iron rod and current is
passed with the help of a battery, it becomes an
MAGNETIC FIELD DUE TO CURRENT CARRYING
electromagnet as shown in fig.
SOLENOID

Solenoid:- A solenoid consists of many circular turns of

an insulated wire in the shape of cylinder. A
solenoid is shown in fig (a). The cylinder on which wire is
wound is called ‘core’.
When current is passed through the solenoid, magnetic
field is produced, the pattern of magnetic lines of force due
to solenoid is very much similar to that of a bar magnet as
shown in fig(b) & (c).
The core of an electromagnet is made of soft iron as it
loses its magnetism when current is made zero. The
magnitude of magnetic field produced by an electromagnet
depends upon the following factors:
1. The current in the coil. Magnetic field produced is
directly proportional to the current flowing through
the coil. Bµ I
2. The number of turns in coil. Magnetic field
produced is directly proportional to the number of
turns in the coil.
Bµ N
 Magnetic Effects of Current 3

3. The nature of material of core. Magnetic field If magnetic field (B) and current (I) are mutually
produced is directly proportional to the permeability perpendicular, then the force exerted is maximum.
(µ) of the material used for core. F=IlB
When θ =900, l = length of conductor.
Bµ µ Otherwise F = I l B where θ = angle between B and
4. Length of coil. Magnetic field produced is inversely I.
proportional to the length (l) of coil. We have just seen that the magnetic field applying
force on a current-carrying conductor but current
B µ 1/l is flow of charge that means moving charge
So, particles should experience force in a magnetic
B µ µNI/l field.
• These forces are used to focus the moving
electrons on the screen of television receiver using
Where µo is constant called absolute permeability of free magnetic field.
space. B = µo µNI/l • The forces due to earth’s magnet field make
charged particles bunch together near the north
pole and produce a glow in the sky called the
Applications of Electromagnets northern light.
• High energy charged particles coming from the sun
1. In factories. Electromagnets are used for lifting very enters the earth’s gravitational field and get
heavy iron loads and other magnetic materials. trapped near the magnetic equator, these regions
2. In medical. Electromagnets are used to remove iron are known as Van Allen radian bells, named after
nails and other magnetic materials from a patient’s American Scientist Van Allen.
body. For example, when small steel splinters get into
the eyes these can be removed with the help of an
electromagnet. D.C. MOTOR
3. Magnetic separators. Electromagnetic separators are
used for separating magnetic substances from non- A motor which runs on direct current (D.C.). It converts
magnetic substances as shown in fig. electrical energy into mechanical energy.
4. Electric bells. Electromagnets are used for making
electric bells as shown in fig. Electromagnets are also
used in telephones and electric telegraphs. Principle
When current-carrying coil is freely suspended inside
For making permanent magnets, rods of hard steel
uniform magnetic field it experiences torque and rotates.
and alloys like nipermag (alloy of iron, nickel,
Uses
aluminum, titanium) and alnico (alloy of aluminum,
These are used in D.C. fans, pumping water and big D.C.
nickel and cobalt) are used.
motors are used for running trams, cars, trains etc.
Construction
D.C. motors consist of following main parts:
PERMANENT(Bar)MAGNET ELECTROMAGNET
1. Armature. It is a rectangular coil ABCD of insulated
1. Its magnetism is 1. Its magnetism is copper wire which is wrapped around an axle PQ. In fig.
permanent. temporary. only one turn is shown but in an actual motor a large
number of turns are there.
2. It produces weak 2. It produces very 2. Field Magnet. Uniform magnetic field is produced by a
magnetic field. strong magnetic permanent magnet NS.
field. 3. Split rings or commutator. As shown in fig. (a) & (b), C1
3. Its strength cannot be 3. Its strength can and C2 are two half rings or commutator, ends of
changed. be changed by armature ABCD are connected to these split rings.
changing current or 4. Battery. The battery ‘B’ supplies current to the
turns. armature.
5. Carbon brushes. B1 and B2 are two carbon brushes
4. Its polarity (N-S) cannot 4. Its polarity (N-S) which maintain electrical contact between the battery
be changed. can be changed by and armature.
reversing the
direction of current.
Working
When current flows in the armature ABCD in such a way
FLEMING’S LEFT HAND RULE that position of armature in the field is as shown in fig. (a),
force on AB acts upwards and force on CD acts in the
Thumb gives direction of downward direction according to Fleming’s left hand rule.
force (F), forefinger gives Due to this, armature rotates and it starts rotating. When
direction of magnetic field (B) it completes half turn position of armature in the field as
and middle finger would give shown in fig (b). Now brush B1 is in contact with C2 and
direction of current (I) brush B2 is in contact with C1, due to which direction of
as shown in fig. current in the armature reverses but the forces on the arm
AB and CD are in such a way that the rotation of armature
remains in the same direction. This way by the action of
commutator (split rings) the armature rotates continuously
in one direction.
 Magnetic Effects of Current
ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION
In 1831 Faraday found that a moving magnetic field
produces electric current, and this is called
electromagnetic induction.
I. When the north pole of the bar magnet is moved
towards the coil then current is induced in the coil and
galvanometer needle is deflected towards right, as
shown in fig.
II. When the north pole of the bar magnet is moved away
from the coil then also current is induced in the coil
due to which needle of galvanometer is deflected
towards left, as shown in fig.
III. When the bar magnet is stationary and the coil is
moved towards the magnet then galvanometer needle is
deflected towards right, as shown in fig.
IV. When the bar magnet is stationary and the coil is
moved away towards from the magnet then
galvanometer needle is deflected towards left, as shown
in fig.
V. When the coil and bar magnet are kept in rest needle of
galvanometer shows no deflection as shown in fig.
4
Fleming’s Right Hand Rule for Direction of Induced
Current
Direction of induced current in a conductor can be found
using Fleming’s right hand rule, according to which if we
stretch forefinger, middle finger and thumb of right hand
such that these three are mutually perpendicular, then
thumb will give direction of motion (M), forefinger gives
direction of magnetic field (B) and middle finger would give
direction of induced current (I) as shown in fig.
A.C. GENERATOR
An A.C. generator converts mechanical energy into
electrical energy (Alternating current). Alternating current
is such a current which changes direction after equal
intervals of time. In our houses we get supply of A.C.
whose frequency is 50 Hz that means its direction will
change 100 times in a second.
Principle
It works on the principle of electromagnetic induction. Due
to induced emf, current flows whose direction can be found
using Fleming’s right hand rule.
CONSTRUCTION
Main parts of A.C. generator are as under:
(i) Armature. It is a rectangular coil ABCD of insulated
copper wire which is wrapped around an axle PQ. In
fig (a) & (b), only one turn is shown but actual
generator has an armature containing large number of
turns.
(ii) Field magnet. Uniform magnet field is produced by
permanent magnet NS.
(iii) Slip rings. S1 and S2 are two hollow metallic rings
which are connected to the ends of armature.
(iv) Carbon brushes. B1 and B2 are two carbon brushes
which are in light contact with rotating slip rings S1
and S2 as shown in fig.
 Magnetic Effects of Current 5

WORKING DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS

When armature ABCD starts rotating, arm AB going up
and CD moving down, current is induced. According to
Fleming’s right hand rule induced current flows from A
to B in AB and C to D in CD then current in resistance
R is from E to F as shown in fig. (a).
After 180 ! rotation of the armature position of coil is
shown in fig. (b). Now arm CD is moving up and AB is
going down, so induced current flows D to C in CD and
B to A in AB and current in resistance R is from F to E
as shown in fig (b).
Thus after each half rotation, direction of current
changes, that is why it is called an A.C. generator.
D.C. GENERATOR
It is a device which converts mechanical energy into
electrical energy (Direct current). A direct current D.C.
flows in the same direction.
PRINCIPLE
It works on the principle of electromagnetic induction.
CONSTRUCTION
Main parts of a D.C. generator are as under:
(i) Armature. It is a rectangular coil ABCD of
insulated copper wire which is wrapped
around an axle PQ.
(ii) Field magnet. Uniform magnet field is
produced by a permanent magnet NS.
(iii) Split rings or commutator. C1 and C2 are
two halves of the same metallic rings which
are connected to the ends of armature as
shown in fig. (a) & (b).
(iv) Carbon brushes. B1 and B2 are two carbon
brushes which are in light electrical contact
with rotating split rings.
There are two wires, one is black insulation and of red
insulation having potential zero volt and 220 volt. Thus
the potential difference between the wires is 220 volt;
the wire with zero potential is called neutral wire (N)
whereas the wire with 220 volt potential is called the
live wire (L).
These two wires coming from the pole enter into a meter
board (Main board) where F1 is the main fuse on the live
wire and then pass into a watt-hour meter installed by
electricity department of our city. The wires coming out
from the meter are connected to the main switch MS
and fuse F2 as shown in fig.
In our homes there were two separate circuits-one
circuit with 15 A for appliances of higher power rating
like refrigerator, fridge, heaters, etc. and other circuit
with 5 A for bulbs, fan, etc.
Earthing. Connecting the metallic body of a high power
rating electrical appliance to the earth wire is called
earthing.
The Electric Fuse—A Safety Device.
1. Overloading. When numbers of appliances of high
power rating are switched on at the same time, they
draw extremely large value of current which may
overheat wires and even cause fire.
2. Short-circuiting. Due to long use, plastic
insulation over the wire may get worm due to which
wires get bare (naked) and live and neutral wire
may get in contact. The touching of live wire and
neutral wire is called short-circuiting, which cause
spark and fire.

To avoid the damage of short-circuiting and overloading we

use a safety device called fuse. A fuse is a safety device
having a wire of alloy of tin (65%) and lead (35%) with low
melting point, as shown in fig
WORKING
When armature ABCD starts rotating arm AB goes up
and CD moves down and current is induced. According
to Fleming’s right hand rule, induced current flows from
A to B in AB and C to D in CD and current in R flows
from E to F as shown in fig. (a).
After 180 ! rotation of the armature induced current in
CD is from D to C and in AB it is B to A but at the same
time brush B1 is in contact with C2 and brush B2 is in
contact with C1. So direction of current in R remains
the same as earlier. Thus we obtain current in R always
in one direction that is why we call it D.C. generator.
Advantage of A.C. to D.C. is that A.C. can be
transmitted over long distance without much loss of
energy.