2020

MAGNETIC EFFECT OF AN ELECTRIC

CURRENT

TEACHERS OF PHYSICS
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9/11/2020
The force on a conductor carrying a current in a magnetic field can be varied by
changing, among others, the magnetic field strength and the magnitude of the current.
Name two other factors that can cause the force to vary. (2mk)
1. Length of the conductor in the field
2. Angle the conductor makes with the magnetic field
1. State the motor rule.
states that “If the thumb, first and second fingers are held mutually at right angles with the first
finger pointing the direction of magnetic field, the second finger in the direction of current, then
the thumb points in the direction of force”
2. Give a reason why a soft iron is used as a core of the coil of an electric bell.
since the soft iron core is easily magnetized and demagnetized
3. The figure below shows magnetic field around a current carrying conductor.

Cardboard

Conductor
I

Indicate on the diagram the direction of the current (1mk)

4. The figure below shows two conducting wires A and B passing through a
horizontal piece of cardboard.

F F

A B
(i) Sketch the resultant magnetic field patterns when the current flow in
both wires in the direction shown. (1mk)
(ii) Show the direction of the force existing between the two wires on the
diagram.

(iii) If the current in B were to be reversed, state how resulting would affect
the wire conductors. (1mk)
 The resultant force will be repulsive hence the conductors will repel each other.

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5. Sketch the resultant field pattern around the following current carrying
conductors and show the direction of the forces acting on the conductor.

N S
F

6. The figure below shows two parallel current- carrying conductors A and B placed
close to each other. The direction of the current is into the plane of the paper.

A B

F F

(i) Sketch the magnetic field pattern

(ii) indicate the force F due to the current on each conductor

7. The figure below shows two parallel current- carrying conductors A and B placed
close to each other. The direction of the current is as shown.

A B
F F

(iii) Sketch the magnetic field pattern

(iv) indicate the force F due to the current on each conductor

8. A compass needle is placed below a current carrying conductor as shown below.

Conductor

I
Indicate on the diagram the direction of the current. (1mk)

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9. Figure represents a long horizontal insulated wire XY connected in an electric
circuit. The circle represents where a plotting compass is placed on the wire.

X Y

K
(i) In the circle put an arrow to show the direction the N pole of the compass will
deflect when switch k. is closed. (2mks)
(ii) State two changes which can be made in the circuit to increase the deflection.
a. Increasing the amount of current.
b. Using a wire of low resistance
10. Show the direction of the magnetic field in the conductor carrying current shown
below. (1mk)

11. The figure below shows a wire in a magnetic field. A current is switched on to
flow through the wire in the direction shown. State the direction of motion of the
wire. (1mk)
Magnetic field

 The wire will move upwards

12. The above conductor was placed in a magnetic field. Show the direction of the
force on the conductor. (1mk)
F

S N

13. The figure shows a current – carrying conductor in a magnetic field direction of
force on the wire is as shown by the arrow.
Force

A B

State the polarities of A and B.

A. North pole
B. South pole

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14. Fig below shows a conductor y placed in a magnetic field. The conductor carries
a current flowing into the paper.

y
N  SS

(i) Sketch the resultant magnetic field between the poles of the bar-magnet.
(1mk)
(ii) Show on the diagram the direction of the force, F acting on the conductor
(1mk)

15. The diagram in figure 1 below shows a wire placed between the poles of two bar
magnets
FB

N S
A

Indicate with an arrow the force that acts on the section AB of the wire. 1mk

16. The diagram in the figure below shows a flexible wire in a magnetic field.
Flexible
Contact wire Pivot
S

K R
(v) Explain the behavior of the wire when the switch K is turned on
 The conductor will move upwards disconnecting from the contact point

(vi) What is the behaviour of the wire if R is reduced?

 The displacement of the conductor upwards will increase

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 17. An uninsulated copper conductor XY lies over the fixed wire connected to a
battery.

N Fixed wires
X

S
Supports
Conductor
(i) State and explain the observation made on the conductor XY when the switch is
closed. (2mk)
 When the current flows along XY, the conductor rolls along the fixed wires towards the
supports.

(ii) In which direction does the wire XY- experience the force?
 To the right

(iii) How do you determine the direction in (i) above

 By use of Fleming’s left hand rule.

(iv) When is the force on the wire XY greatest?


The force is maximum when the angle between the conductor and the field is 900

(v) What is the effect of reversing both the magnetic field and direction of flow of
current?
 No effect on the direction of force

(vi) State TWO factors by which the force on XY can be increased. (2mk)
 The force increases with increase in the length of the conductor in the magnetic fields.
 This force increases with increase in current and therefore field strength.
(vii) Name an instrument which uses this effect
 The electric motor

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APPLICATION
1. The coil of an electric motor is usually wound on soft iron armature. State two
purposes served by this armature (2 mk)
1. The soft iron core becomes magnetized easily
2. Concentrates its magnetic field in the coil.
2. State two ways in which the speed of rotation of a motor can be increased
(2mk)
 Winding the coil on a soft iron core.
 Increasing the number of turns of the rotating coil.
 Using a stronger magnet
 Multiplying the number of coils and commuter segments
3. Give TWO practical applications of an electromagnet
 Electric bell
 Electric motor

4. The diagram below shows a simple electric motor.

N S

C1 C2

X1 X2

(a) Name the part labeled

(i) X1 and X2state their functions. (2mk)
Name : Commutators
Function: The current enters and leaves the coil through the commutators
(ii) C1 and C2state their functions. (2mk)
Name: Carbon brushes
Functions:
 Presses lightly against the commutators so that that the coil rotates freely and easily.
 Connect the coil to the electric current source.

(b) What can be done to increase the speed of rotation of the motor?. (2mk)
 Increasing the amount of electric current
 Using a stronger magnet

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(c) By use of an arrow, show the direction in which the coil will rotate when the
switch is closed. (1mk)

5. The diagram below shows a simple electric motor.

N S

C
X
(a) Name the parts labeled
(i) X Carbon brushes (1mk)
(ii) C Commutators (1mk)

(b)Explain how the motor works (3mks)

Working Mechanism of the Electric Motor

 When the coil is horizontal and current passes through it as shown on the diagram, side AB
experiences an upward force while BC experiences a downward force. The two forces make the coil
rotate in the clockwise direction.
 When the coil is in the vertical position with AB at the top and CD at the bottom, the brushes touch
the spaces between the two split rings.
 Due to momentum, the coil continues to rotate and the commutators interchange the contact
positions with the brushes.
 The current is then reversed in the coil and the forces acting on each side reverse in direction. Side
AB is now on the right with a downward force while side CD is on the left with an upward force.
The coil continues to rotate.

(c) In which direction will the coil rotate when the switch is closed. (1mk)
 Anticlockwise direction

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(d) What can be done to increase the speed of rotation of the motor?. (2mk
 Increasing the amount of electric current
 Using a stronger magnet

6. The figure below shows a simple electric bell circuit

Switch

Spring

B
Soft iron core

A Hammer

i) Name the parts labeled. (3mk)

I) A Gong.

II) B Soft iron armature

III) C Contact

i) Describe how the electric bell works (5mk)

Working Mechanism of an Electric Bell
 When current is switched on, it flows through the circuit and the soft iron core becomes magnetized.
The magnetized iron core then attracts the sot iron armature, which has a hammer at its end. On
attraction, the hammer knocks the gong and the bell rings.
 When the soft iron armature is attracted, the contact at the contact screw is broken and current
stops flowing. The electromagnet loses its magnetism and releases the soft iron armature and this
closes the contact again.This process is repeated and the bell rings continuously as long as the
switch is closed

iii) State and explain what would happen if the armature is made of steel metal.
The bell will take time to ring
 Steel metal takes much time to be magnetized
(2mk)
iii) What adjustment should be done to the system to make it operate effectively
With a lower voltage battery? (1mk)
 Reducing the contact space between the contact screw and the steel spring

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7. The figure below shows a simple electric bell circuit
Switch

Spring

S
Z
N

Y
X
Gong Hammer

i) Name the parts labeled. (3mk)

I) X Soft iron core
II) Y Soft iron armature
III) Z Contact

ii) When the switch is closed, the hammer hits the gong repeatedly. Explain why:
I) The hammer hits the gong. (2mk)
When the switch S is closed, the current flows through the circuit and the core becomes magnetised,
the electromagnet induces magnetism in the soft iron strip (armature), which is then attracted to the
poles of the electromagnet. The hammer attached to the armature thus strikes the gong.

II) The hammer hits the gong repeatedly (2mk)

The attraction of the soft iron armature separates the contacts breaking the circuit. The magnetism
in the core therefore dies off and the spring returns the armature to its original position. Contact is
made again and the process is repeated.So long as the switch is closed, the hammer strikes the gong
repeatedly.

8. In the set up, the suspended meter rule is in equilibrium balanced by the magnet
and the weight shown. The iron core is fixed to the bench.

Meter rule

S Suspender
N
K Iron core

Weight

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 (i) State and explain the effect of the metre rule when the switch is closed. (3mk)
The magnet will be attracted to the iron core causing the metre rule to tilt towards the core.
When switch K is closed the iron core becomes magnetized having its south pole at the end near
the magnet thus attraction occurs.

(ii) What would be the effect of reversing the battery terminals? (2mk)
 Repulsion

9. Figure below shows a motor connected to a magnetic switch called a relay

operated by an ordinary switch S1. Use the information in the figure to answer
questions that follows:

Insulator
Pivot

Motor
Contacts Soft iron core

Soft iron
armature
S1

i. Explain how the relay switches on the motor when S1 is closed (3 mk)
When the switch S1 is closed, current flows through circuit; electromagnet is made on the solenoid and
in turn attracts the soft iron armature which closes the contacts and the motor switches on.

ii. State with a reason the effect on the motor if the iron core is replaced with a steel
core and switch S1 is put on and then off. (2 mk)
The motor will take time to switch on but once on it will operate for a longer duration.Steel core will
take more time more be magnetized but once magnetized it retains its magnetism for a longer period
closing the contacts for a longer time.

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10. Draw a labelled diagram of a simple dc motor (3mks)

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