Electric Current and its effects

Chapter-14

Q1 What is meant by electric current?

Ans-Electric Current : Flow of electrons.

Q2 What is an electrc circuit?

Ans -Electric Circuit : The closed path in which electric current flows.

Q3 Under what conditions a circuit is said to be complete?

Ans-Current can flow through a circuit only if it is complete i.e. all its parts are made up of a
conductor.

Q4 What is a switch?
Ans -Switch is used to close and open a circuit. When switch is ‘ON’ circuit is complete and current
flows through it and when it is ‘OFF’ circuit breaks (air is an insulator) and flow of current stops.

Q5 Draw the symbols for various Components of an electric circuit ?

Cell : Source of electric current.
Battery : Combination of 2 or more cells
Connecting Wires – generally insulated Copper wires.
Electric Bulb – Key or switch-Open key-Closed key
Note : When cells are connected to form a battery positive terminal of one is always connected to
negative terminal of the other.

Q6 What is a circuit diagram?

Ans—In an electrical Circuit when we replace electrical components with their symbols we call it
Circuit diagram.
Q7 What do mean by heating effect of current?
Ans--When current flows through a metal wire it gets heated up, this is called heating effect of
current. e.g. a glowing electric bulb becomes warm.

Q8 Name few appliances which use heating effect of current.

Ans--Appliances using heating effect of current Electric Iron, room heater, electric heater, geyser,
hair dryers etc.

Q10 What are filaments of a bulb and a heater made up of?

Ans--In a bulb there is a thin wire called the filament made up of tungsten. When current passes
through it, it glows and gets heated up. In a heater there is a coil of wire called element which is
made up of nichrome. When current passes through element it becomes red hot and give out heat.

Q11 What are the factors on which amount of heat produced depends?
The amount of heat produced in a wire depends on
(A) Its material – better conductors produce less heat; e.g. Elements of electric appliances are made
of nichrome whereas connecting wires are made up of copper which is a better conductor so they do
not get heated up as the element.
(B) Its length – as length increases heat produced increases; e.g. elements are coiled in heaters to
increase length.
(C) Thickness – as thickness increases heat produced decreases; e.g. lead wires of iron, heater etc.
are thicker than normal connecting wire so that they don’t get heated up easily.

Q12 What is an electric fuse?

Ans---Electric Fuse - A Safety device in domestic circuit used to prevent electrical fire due to short
circuit or overloading.

Q 13.Name any two effects of electric current.

Ans : Heating Effect : When an electric current flows through a wire, the wire gets heated. It is the
heating effect of current due to resistance of wire that flow of current. This effect has
many applications like Electric Heater, Light Bulb etc.
Magnetic effect : When an electric current flows through a wire, it produces magnetic effect around
it that is detected by magnetic compass. Magnetic Effect of electric current use in Electric Bell,
Motor, Fan etc
.
Q 14.Fill in the blanks:
(a) Longer line in the symbol for a cell represents its ------- terminal.
(b) The combination of two or more cells is called a -------- .
(c) When current is switched ‘on’ in a room heater, it ----------.
(d) The safety device based on the heating effect of electric current is called a -------.
Ans: (a)negative (b) battery(c) gives out heat (d)fuse

Q 15. Mark ‘T’ if the statement is true and ‘F’ if it is false:

(a) To make a battery of two cells, the negative terminal of one cell is connected to the negative
terminal of the other cell.
(b) When the electric current through the fuse exceeds a certain limit, the fuse wire melts and breaks.
(c) An electromagnet does not attract a piece of iron.
(d) An electric bell has an electromagnet.
(a) (F) (b) (T) (c)(F) (d)(T)

1. Why does electric current show magnetic effect?

When electric current flows through a conductor, electrons move by spinning and
orbiting nucleus. This motion of electrons produces magnetic effect. As Ampere
suggested, a magnetic field is produced whenever an electrical charge is in motion.
2. Does magnetic field always surrounds a current carrying conductor? What is its cause?
Yes. Magnetic field always surrounds a current carrying conductor due to electron move
through a conductor by magnetic field always surrounds a current carrying conductor
3. Why are fuse wire not used in circuit containing electric cell?
Ans: Fuse wire is used to prevent sudden excess flow of current. Cell provide current of
fix magnitude So fuse wire are not used in circuit containing electric cell
4. Why does electric current show heating effect?
When electric current flows through a conductor, a part of electrical energy get
converted into heat energy due resistance offered to electron.

Q1. Fill in the blanks.

Longer line in the symbol for a cell represents its positive terminal.
The combination of two or more cells is called a battery.
When current is switched ‘on’ in a room heater, it produces heat.
The safety device based on the heating effect of electric current is called a fuse.

Q2. True/False
To make a battery of two cells, the negative terminal of one cell is connected to the negative
terminal of the other cell. False
When the electric current through the fuse exceeds a certain limit, the fuse wire melts and
breaks. True
An electromagnet does not attract a piece of iron. False
An electric bell has an electromagnet. True
Q3. What is electric current?
Ans. Electric current is flow of electrons.

Q4. Why does light bulb get hot?

Ans. Light bulb gets hot due to heating effect of the electric current.

Q5. Who discovered magnetic effect of current?

Ans. Hans Christian Oersted discovered magnetic effect of current.

Q6. How does a bulb glow?

Ans. In the bulb there is a thin wire, called the filament, which glows and gives off light when
an electric current passes through it.

Q7. Write some uses of battery.

Ans. Many devices such as torches, transistors, toys, TV remote controls, use batteries.

Q8. Which wire used in electric heater and why?

Ans. Nichrome wire is used in electric heater because it has a high melting temperature.

Q9. What is filament?

Ans. In the bulb there is a thin wire, called the filament, which glows when an electric current passes
through it.

Q10. Is it possible for a wire to melt and break? Why?

Ans. Yes, if a large current passes through a wire, the wire may become so hot that it may even melt
and break.

Q11. What is the heating effect of the electric current?

Ans. The wire gets hot when an electric current passes through it. This is the heating effect of the
electric current.

Q12. Who invented electric bulb?

Ans. The credit for the invention of the electric bulb is usually given to Thomas Alva Edison, though
others before him had worked on it.

Q13. What are the uses of heating effect of electric current?

Ans. Electrical appliances, such as immersion heaters, hotplates, irons, geysers, electric kettles, hair
dryers uses of heating effect of electric current.

Q14. Explain the symbol of electric cell.

Ans. In the symbol of the electric cell, the longer line represents the positive terminal and the
thicker, shorter line represents the negative terminal.

Q15. Name any two effects of electric current.

Ans. The two effects of electric current are:
Heating effect of electric current
Magnetic effect of the electric current
Q16. Why are fuse wires not used in circuit containing electric cell?
Ans. Fuse wires are not used in circuit containing electric cell because the amount of current follow
is low and if the circuit breaks there is no risk of fire.

Q17. What is an electric circuit?

Ans. The electric circuit provides a closed path for electricity to pass between the two terminals of
the electric cell. The bulb glows only when current flows through the circuit.

Q18. We could not see element in electrical appliances. Give reason.

Ans. We could not see element in electrical appliances because electrical appliances, such as
immersion heaters, hotplates, irons, geysers, electric kettles, hair dryers, have elements inside them.

Q19. Why a fused bulb does not glow?

Ans. A break in the filament of an electric bulb means a break in the path of the current between the
terminals of the electric cell. Therefore, a fused bulb will not glow as current does not passes
through its filament.

Q20. Sometimes the cells are placed side by side. Then how are the terminals of the cells
connected?
Ans. There is usually a thick wire or a metal strip connecting the positive terminal of one cell to the
negative terminal of the next cell.

Q21. Why should we look for ISI mark on electrical appliances?

Ans. Before buying any electrical appliance we should look for ISI mark because this mark ensures
that the appliance is safe and wastage of energy is the minimum.

Q22. On what factors does the heat produced in a wire depend?

Ans. The amount of heat produced in a wire depends on its material, length and thickness. Thus, for
different requirements, the wires of different materials and different lengths and thicknesses are
used.

Q23. What is battery? How can it be made using cells?

Ans. A combination of two or more cells is called a battery. Battery can be made by connecting two
or more cells together. The positive terminal of one cell is connected to the negative terminal of the
next cell.

Q24. What are electromagnets?

Ans. A core of magnetic material (such as iron) surrounded by a coil of wire behaves like a magnet
when electric current flows through it. When the electric current is switched off, the coil generally
loses its magnetism. Such coils are called electromagnets.

Q25. How does a heating element work in an electric heater?

Ans. An electric room heater or an electric heater used for cooking. All these contain a coil of wire.
This coil of wire is called an element. When these appliances are switched on after connecting to the
electric supply, their elements become red hot and give out heat.
Q26. Do you think an electromagnet can be used for separating plastic bags from a garbage
heap? Explain.
Ans. No, an electromagnet cannot be used for separating plastic bags from a garbage heap because
plastic bag is a non-magnetic material and will not be attracted by an electromagnet.

Q27. What is MCB and what is it used for?

Ans. These days Miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) are increasingly being used in place of fuses.
These are switches which automatically turn off when current in a circuit exceeds the safe limit. We
can turn them on and the circuit is once again complete.

Q28. An electrician is carrying out some repairs in your house. He wants to replace a fuse by a
piece of wire. Would you agree? Give reasons for your response.
Ans. No, electrician should not replace a fuse by a piece of wire because for fuse, wires made from
some special materials are used so that it melt quickly and break when large electric currents passes
through them.

Q29. What are the reasons for excessive currents in the electrical circuits?
Ans. One reason for excessive currents in electrical circuits is the direct touching of wires. This may
happen if the insulation on the wires has come off due to wear and tear. This may cause a short
circuit. Another reason for excessive current can be the connection of many devices to a single
socket. This may cause overload in the circuit.

Q30. The following Fig. shows four cells fixed on a board. Draw lines to indicate how you will
connect their terminals with wires to make a battery of four cells.

Image from NCERT

Ans.

Q31. An electric bulb results in wastage of electricity. Comment

Ans. An electric bulb is used for light but it also gives heat. This is not desirable. This results in the
wastage of electricity. This wastage can be reduced by using fluorescent tube lights in place of the
bulbs. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) also reduce wastage and can be fixed in the ordinary bulb
holders.

Q32. What is the use of electrical fuse?

Ans. In all buildings fuses are inserted in all electrical circuits. There is a maximum limit on the
current which can safely flow through a circuit. If by accident the current exceeds this safe limit, the
wires may become overheated and may cause fire. If a proper fuse is there in the circuit, it will blow
off and break the circuit. A fuse is thus a safety device which prevents damages to electrical circuits
and possible fires.

Q33. What are the uses of electromagnets?

Ans. The electromagnets can be made very strong and can lift very heavy loads. The end of such a
crane has a strong electromagnet attached to it. The electromagnets are also used to separate
magnetic material from the junk. Doctors use tiny electromagnets to take out small pieces of
magnetic material that have accidentally fallen in the eye. Many toys also have electromagnets
inside them. Electromagnets are also used in electric bells.

Q34. When the current is switched on through a wire, a compass needle kept nearby gets
deflected from its north-south position. Explain.
Ans. We know that the needle of a compass is a tiny magnet, which points in north-south direction.
When we bring a magnet close to it, the needle gets deflected. We have also seen that compass
needle gets deflected when the current flows in a nearby wire. This is so because when electric
current passes through a wire, it behaves like a magnet. This is the magnetic effect of the electric
current
Q35. Write the key points about electric circuit.
Ans. Key Points
Notice that the key or switch can be placed anywhere in the circuit.
When the switch is in the ‘ON’ position, the circuit from the positive terminal of the battery to the
negative terminal is complete. The circuit is then said to be closed and the current flows throughout
the circuit instantly.
When the switch is in the ‘OFF’ position, the circuit is incomplete. It is said to be open. No current
flows through any part of the circuit.

Q36. Will the compass needle show deflection when the switch in the circuit shown below is
closed?

Image from NCERT

Ans. No, the compass needle will not show deflection when the switch in the circuit shown above is
closed because compass needle shows deflection only when current passes through the wire.
Q37. Draw in your notebook the symbols to represent the following components of electrical
circuits: connecting wires, switch in the ‘OFF’ position, bulb, cell, switch in the ‘ON’ position,
and battery.
Ans.
Electric Components Symbol
Connecting wires

Switch in the ‘OFF’ position

Bulb

Cell

Switch in the ‘ON’ position

Battery

Q38. In the circuit shown in the below Fig.

Image from NCERT

(i) Would any of the bulbs glow when the switch is in the ‘OFF’ position?
(ii) What will be the order in which the bulbs A, B and C will glow when the switch is moved to
the ‘ON’ position?
Ans. i. No, bulb will not glow when the switch is in the ‘OFF’ position because current does not
flow through the circuit.
ii. All the bulbs will glow simultaneously when the switch is moved to the ‘ON’ position.

Q39. Draw the circuit diagram to represent the circuit shown below.

Image from NCERT

Ans. Here, the switch is in the ‘OFF’ position as one of the board pin is not attached to the safety
pin. Thus, the circuit is incomplete. It is said to be open and no current flows through any part of the
circuit. Bulb glows only when the switch is in the ‘ON’ position and the electric circuit is closed.

Q40. The bulb in the circuit shown in Fig. does not glow. Can you identify the problem? Make
necessary changes in the circuit to make the bulb glow.

Ans. The bulb in the circuit is not glowing because the two cells are not connected properly. In order
to make the bulb glow, the negative terminal of one cell should be connected to positive terminal of
the other cell.

Q41. Zubeda made an electric circuit using a cell holder shown in Fig., a switch and a bulb.
When she put the switch in the ‘ON’ position, the bulb did not glow. Help Zubeda in
identifying the possible defects in the circuit.
Ans. Possible defects
Rubber band used may not be tight enough to hold the metal strips tightly. It is necessary that the
rubber bands hold the metal strips tightly.
The two cells may not be connected properly. The negative terminal of one cell should be connected
with the positive terminal of the other cell.
The two cells may not be in proper contact. Current will not flow if circuit is not complete.
The bulb may be fused. Fuse bulb do not complete the circuit. Hence bulb will not glow.

Q42. Write an experiment to show the magnetic effect of current.

Ans. Take the cardboard tray from inside a discarded matchbox. Wrap an electric wire a few times
around the cardboard tray. Place a small compass needle inside it. Now connect the free ends of this
wire to an electric cell through a switch. Now, move the switch to the ‘ON’ position. We will
observe that compass needle gets deflected when the current flows in a nearby wire. So, when
electric current passes through a wire, it behaves like a magnet. This is the magnetic effect of the
electric current.

Q43. Write an experiment to make an electromagnet.

Ans. Take around 75 cm long piece of insulated (plastic or cloth covered or enamelled) flexible wire
and an iron nail, say about 6–10 cm long. Wind the wire tightly around the nail in the form of a coil.
Connect the free ends of the wire to the terminals of a cell through a switch. Place some pins on or
near the end of the nail. Now switch on the current. The pins cling to the end of the nail. The coil in
the above activity behaves like a magnet when electric current flows through it. When the electric
current is switched off, the coil generally loses its magnetism. Such coils are called electromagnets.
Q44. How does an electric bell work?
Or
Explain the working of an electric bell.
Ans. The circuit of an electric bell consists of a coil of wire wound on an iron piece. The coil acts as
an electromagnet. An iron strip with a hammer at one end is kept close to the electromagnet. There is
a contact screw near the iron strip. When the iron strip is in contact with the screw, the current flows
through the coil which becomes an electromagnet. It, then,pulls the iron strip. In the process, the
hammer at the end of the strip strikes the gong of the bell to produce a sound. However, when the
electromagnet pulls the iron strip, it also breaks the circuit. The current through the coil stops
flowing. The coil is no longer an electromagnet. It no longer attracts the iron strip. The iron strip
comes back to its original position and touches the contact screw again. This completes the circuit.
The current flows in the coil and the hammer strikes the gong again. This process is repeated in
quick succession. The hammer strikes the gong every time the circuit is completed. This is how the
bell rings.