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04 Electric Circuits - Effects of An Electric Current 2016
04 Electric Circuits - Effects of An Electric Current 2016
Junior Science
Chemical Effect
An electric current can be used to cause a
chemical reactions.
Electrolysis is the production of a chemical
change by electricity.
Electroplating is a process where electrolysis
is used to put a layer of one metal on the
surface of another.
Conductivity
is improved by adding a small
amount of Sulphuric acid (H2SO4).
Anode (+)
Cathode (-)
Cathode (-)
Cathode (-)
Anode (+)
Cathode (-)
Cathode (-)
Importance of Electrolysis
Metals such as Sodium, Magnesium and Aluminium are
obtained from their molten states by electrolysis.
Production of oxygen for spacecraft and nuclear
submarines.
Electroplating is used in many industries for functional
or decorative purposes, as in vehicle bodies and nickel
coins.
Production of hydrogen for fuel, using a cheap source
of electrical energy.
Electrolysis is also used in the cleaning and
preservation of old artifacts.
Heating Effect
A current requires Energy to pass through a metal
wire.
Some metals provide greater resistance to the
flow of current and as a result more energy is
required.
Magnetic Effect
1819 Danish Physicist Hans Oersted discovered that
a magnetic field surrounds a wire when a current
flows through it.
The direction of the magnetic field is give by the
right hand rule.
The conversion from electrical energy into
magnetic energy can be demonstrated using a coil
of wire and an iron nail to make an electromagnet.
Electromagnet
Summary
Three effects of an electric current include its
chemical effect, heating effect and magnetic
effect.
Electrolysis of water demonstrates the chemical
effect.
Connecting a bulb into a simple circuit
demonstrates the heating effect.
Coiling a wire around a nail and connecting into a
circuit creates an electromagnetic which
demonstrates the magnetic effect of the current.