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Practical Electricity
Practical Electricity
Practical Electricity
19
Practical
When
When anan electric
electric current
current flows
flows
through
through a a circuit,
circuit, it
it may
may give
give rise
rise
to
to heating
heating effects
effects (as
(as in
in an
an electric
electric
motor)
motor) or
or chemical
chemical effects(as
effects(as in
in
Electricity electrolysis).
electrolysis). We can make use of
these effects
kinds
kinds of
We
to
can make
construct
of electrical
use of
different
these effects to construct different
electrical appliances.
appliances.
contents
Dangers of Electricity
Chapter Review
Electric power and energy
Heating elements
found in electric irons, kettles, cookers and immersion
heaters
contains heating elements usually made of nichrome
wire (which has a high resistance and high melting
point) coiled round an insulating fire-proof material
(e.g.fire-clay, silica or mica). Nichrome heats up when
current flows through the wire.
electric power and energy
a. electric iron
thermostat
heat produced must be control
earth pin
heat is spread
through the water by
convection
immersion
heater
soldering
iron
hair dryer
heating
element
toaster
Unit 19.1: Uses of Electricity
d. Electrical lighting:
Filament lamp
• The filament is made of tungsten
because of its high resistivity and
melting point.
• The filament is very thin, giving it a
higher resistance than the rest of the
Figure 19.5 A filament lamp
circuit (R=ρl ⁄A)
• When an electric current flows
through the filament, the tungsten gets
extremely hot (2500 oC) and generates
light.
Unit 19.1: Uses of Electricity
Electrical lighting: Fluorescent lamp
• The fluorescent lamp uses electrodes to
produce light.
• When electric charges are passed
between the two electrodes, the mercury
vapour in the glass tube emits
ultraviolet light together with visible
light. Figure 19.6 A fluorescent
lamp
• The ultraviolet light is converted to
visible light by the fluorescent powder
coated on the inside of the glass tube.
Unit 19.1: Uses of Electricity
Comparison of the filament lamp to the fluorescent lamp
Type Advantages Disadvantages
Filament They are used in homes to Only a small percentage of the
lamp give a cosy and relaxed electrical energy supplied is
atmosphere. converted to light. The majority of
the energy is converted to thermal
energy. This explains why a
filament lamp feels warm when
touched.
Fluorescent They are energy efficient. They cost more than filament
lamp Thus, they are widely lamps. As the mercury vapour in
used in offices and fluorescent lamps is toxic, the
schools for lighting. lamps must be handled carefully.
Table 19.1
Unit 19.1: Uses of Electricity
Electric motors
• They convert electrical energy into rotational kinetic
energy.
• They are used in household appliances like the fan,
food mixers, electric drills and even in hard disks and
DVD drives.
• They work on the principles of the magnetic effects of
a current (Unit 21: Electromagnetism).
Unit 19.1: Uses of Electricity
Key Ideas
1. Electric kettles, ovens and heaters make use of the
heating effect of electricity to function.
Answer:
higher
potential
gain in chemical
potential energy
energy loss in heat
potential energy
energy
From J Q
Q== It
It
V=
previous C
topic:
V2
E
E== VIt
VIt E
E== II22Rt
Rt E
E== tt
R
Unit 19.2: Measuring Electrical Energy
Eg 1
Solution:
i. E = VIt
E = 2.5 x 0.02 x 100
E = 5J
Eg. 2
Calculate the electrical energy consumed by a
i. 2.5 V, 0.02 A bulb for 100s,
ii. 60 W, 240 V electric iron for 20 minutes,
iii. 4 kΩ immersion electric heater of current 2.3 A
for 3 hours.
Solution:
ii. E = VIt seconds
E = Pt
E = 60 x (20 x 60)
E = 72 kJ.
Eg. 2
Calculate the electrical energy consumed by a
i. 2.5 V, 0.02 A bulb for 100s,
ii. 60 W, 240 V electric iron for 20 minutes,
iii. 0.1 kΩ immersion electric heater of current
2.4 A for 3 hours.
seconds
Solution:
iii. E = I2Rt
E = (2.4)2 x 100 x (3 x 60 x 60)
E = 6.22 MJ
electric power and energy
4. Electrical power
is the rate at which energy is released
E V2
PP =
= PP =
= VI
VI PP =
= II22R
R PP =
=
t R
has a SI
SI unit
unit of
of watt
watt (W)
(W) or
or joule
joule per
per second
second (J -1)
(J ss-1
other commonly used units include the milliwatt, kilowatt
and megawatt
all electrical appliances should indicate the correct working
voltage and power consumption needed to use it.
One unit of
of electrical
electrical energy
energy =
=11 kWh
kWh
= 1 kW x 1 hour
= 1000 x 3600s
= 3,600,000 J
electric power and energy
measuring electricity consumption
has a unit of kilowatt-hour (kWh)
1 kWh is the energy used by 1 kW electrical appliance in
an hour
Cost of electrical energy = units of electricity used x cost
per unit
electric meter
Eg. 3
An electric fire is labelled 5 kW, 240 V. Calculate
i. the current in the heater,
ii. the resistance of the heater,
iii. the cost of using the electric fire for 4 hours if the
electricity costs 15 cents per unit.
Solution:
i. P = VI
5000 = 240 x I
I = 20.8 A
Eg. 3
An electric fire is labelled 5 kW, 240 V. Calculate
i. the current in the heater,
ii. the resistance of the heater,
iii. the cost of using the electric fire for 4 hours if the
electricity costs 15 cents per unit.
Solution:
ii. V = RI
240 = R x 20.8
R = 11.5 Ω
Eg. 3
An electric fire is labelled 5 kW, 240 V. Calculate
i. the current in the heater,
ii. the resistance of the heater,
iii. the cost of using the electric fire for 4 hours if the
electricity costs 15 cents per unit.
Solution:
Copyright © 2006-2011 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. 5 April 2011
Eg.5
A 1.5 kW electrical heated is used to heat a large
container of water for 2 hours. Calculate the amount
of electrical energy used by the heater in (a) kWh,
(b) J.
Solution:
Given P = 1.5 kW, t = 2 hrs
(a) Energy used E (in kWh) = P × t
= 1.5 × 2 = 3.0 kWh
(b) E (in J) = P × t
= 1500 × (2 × 60 × 60) = 1.08 × 107 J
Electrical bill…
Eg. 6
Figure shows a utilities bill of a household for one month. How is
the cost of electricity shown in the bill derived?
Solution:
From Figure 19.12, under the heading ‘Electricity Services’, the
number of units of electricity consumed is 112 kWh at a rate of
$0.1957 (or 19.57 cents per kWh).
Copyright © 2006-2011 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. 5 April 2011
5. Dangers of electricity
Two major dangers when using electricity
risk of an electric shock
risk of fire
Dangers are caused by
the use of electrical wires with damaged insulation
the overheating of cables
touching electrical appliances with wet hands
dangers of electricity
a. damaged insulation
The insulation of a wire protects us because:
an exposed live
wire can
electrocute
someone who
accidentally
touches it
live and neutral
wires may come
into contact in a
short circuit,
causing a large
current to flow
and ignite a fire
exposed electrical wire
dangers of electricity
b. overheating of cables
as resistance is inversely
proportional to the cross-sectional
area, a thin wire possesses high
resistance
thin wires produce more heat which
heat up the wires faster
thin wires damage the wire
insulations and may cause a fire
thin wires are used for electrical
appliances which need low power
e.g. lamps and radios
thick wires are used for appliances
which require high power e.g.
electric irons and kettles
dangers of electricity
c. Overheating of cables
if too many electrical
appliances were used at the
same time, the total power
drawn by them through the
electric cable from the
mains supply may be very
large
cable
cable becomes
becomes overloaded
overloaded
and overheated, which may
result in a fire
dangers of electricity
d. Damp conditions
dry skin has a resistance of 100 000 Ω or more
size of current which flows through a human body depends
on the voltage and the electrical resistance of the body
wet skin lowers resistance of human body
water especially with sweat, contains salts of good
conductibility may cause resistance to fall to a few hundred
ohms
mains
fuse
circuit showing how electricity
is supplied to the home live neutral
Unit 19.4: Safe Use of Electricity at Home
Copyright © 2006-2011 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. 5 April 2011
Safety features installed at home for safe use of electricity:
a. Circuit breakers
b. Fuses
c. Correct placement of switch in the circuit
d. Three-pin plug
e. Earth wire
f. Double insulation of certain appliances
Unit 19.4: Safe Use of Electricity at Home
a. Circuit breakers
• These are safety devices that can switch off the electrical
supply when there is excessive current in the circuit.
Copyright © 2006-2011 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. 5 April 2011
Unit 19.4: Safe Use of Electricity at Home
a. Circuit breakers
• Two circuit breakers that can be found near the front door
of a house:
(a)The Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB)
(b)The Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) or the
Residual Current Detector (RCD)
• The MCB prevents excessive current flow through the
circuit by tripping or breaking it.
• The ELCB monitors the amount of current flowing from
the live wire. The ELCB detects small current leakages
from the live wire to the earth wire. When this happens,
the current in the live wire will be greater than the neutral
wire, causing the ELCB to ‘trip’.
b. Fuses
A fuse is a short, thin piece of wire that heats up and melts when
EXCESSIVE current flowing through it, i.e. higher than its rating.
Fuses protect the house circuits (electrical appliances) from damage due
to too large a current or overloading.
Fuses come in 1A, 2A, 5A , 10A and 13A.
ceramic
5A fuse
plastic tube
wire
base
fuse wire
soldered
to ends
b. Fuses
• A fuse should be connected to the live wire so that the
appliance will not become charged after the fuse has
melted due to an overflow of current.
• Before you change a fuse, always switch off the mains
power supply.
Unit 19.4: Safe Use of Electricity at Home
Eg. 7
A hot water heated is rated 2880 W, 240 V. Calculate the
operating current and suggest a suitable rating for a fuse to
protect the heater from overheating.
Solution:
Given: Power of heater P = 2880 W, voltage V = 240 V
Let the operating current be I.
P = VI, then I = P/V = 2880/240 = 12 A
The current I in the water heater is 12 A. A suitable fuse is
one with a fuse rating that is slightly higher than the current
flowing through the device. Thus a 13 A fuse would be
suitable for the water heater.
safe use of electricity in the home
c. switches
are used to turn electrical appliances on or off
wire to electrical
live wire appliance
earth wire
electric contact
knob
cam
springy metal
wall switch
safe use of electricity in the home
switches
two way switches can be used to control a single lamp
lamp
neutral
240 V supply
live fuse
electric
contact
two-way switches
springy
metal
Unit 19.4: Safe Use of Electricity at Home
c. Switches
• Switches break or complete and electrical circuit.
• If the switch is fitted onto the neutral wire, the appliance
will be ‘live’ even if the switch if ‘off’.
c. Switches
• Switches must be fitted onto the live wire so that
switching off disconnects the high voltage from an
appliance.
neutral
safe use of electricity in the home
switches and fuses in a circuit
neutral
live live neutral
(off)
(on)
correct incorrect
d. 3- pin plugs
Underline:
Live Brown
Neutral Blue
Earth Yellow with green stripes
Unit 19.4: Safe Use of Electricity at Home
• Inside the plug, there is a cartridge fuse that blows and breaks
the circuit when excessive current flows in the appliance.
safe use of electricity in the home
d. Three-pin plugs
The power circuits
circuits join
join all
all the
the sockets
sockets around
around the
the walls
walls of
of aa
house to the mains supply through a wiring system called a
ring circuit. In this circuit, there are two possible paths
through which the current can flow.
earth
neutral
live
safe use of electricity in the home
wiring a 3-pin plug
live wire: brown neutral
if someone happens
to touch the kettle,
current can flow
through his body to
the earth, giving him
an electric shock
safe use of electricity in the home
earthing metal cases
fuse
heating
element
Unit 19.4: Safe Use of Electricity at Home
e. Earthing
• The earth wire (green and yellow) is a low-resistance wire
and is usually connected to the metal casing of the
appliance.
• Earthing prevents users from getting an electric shock if the
live wire is not properly connected and touches the metal
casing of the appliance.
5 April 2011
safe use of electricity in the home
e. Why is earthing not required?
Inside a house, there are a few lighting circuits and power
circuits. Each circuit has its own fuse in the consumer unit.
Lighting circuits
have their own fuse in the consumer unit
seldom carry more than 1A of current; little heat
produced, therefore thin cables are used.
There is no metal parts exposed. (Insulation?)
safe use of electricity in the home
f. Double insulation
Some electrical appliances (e.g.hair dryers, electric shavers
and television sets) connected to power circuits are not
earthed by having only a 2-pin plug (live and neutral wires).
double insulation is used
live electrical components
are carefully shielded and
isolated from the user
accessible metal parts
cannot become live unless
two independent layers of
insulation fail
f. Double insulation
• This is a safety feature in an electrical
appliance that can substitute the earth
wire.
• Devices that have double insulation
normally use a two-pin plug as only the
live and neutral wires are required.
• The electric cable is insulated from the
internal components of the appliance.
• The internal components are also
insulated from the external casing. Figure 19.29 This fan
has double insulation.
Notice the symbol for
double insulation on the
specification sheet.
Key Idea
1. Safety features of home electrical circuit:
(a) Circuit breakers. They serve two functions:
(i) To prevent excessive current flow through the cables, and
(ii) To detect small leakage current to earth.
(b) Fuses prevent excessive current flow through the appliance. The fuse is
always connected to the live wire.
(c) Switches are always fitted on the live wire.
(d) Three-pin plugs are used to connect appliances to the mains socket. The
plug contains a fuse within the case. It also connects the earth wire to the
appliance.
(e) The earth wire is connected to the metal casing of appliances. It provides
a low resistance conducting path for the current to flow to earth should the
metal case suddenly become ‘live’.
Test Yourself 19.4
1. What is the function of a circuit breaker? What is the
difference between the Miniature Circuit Breaker and the
Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker?
Answer:
A circuit breaker switches off the electrical supply in a
circuit when there is an overflow of current or leakage of
current.
The MCB breaks the circuit when the current flowing
through it is excessive but the ELCB detects small current
leakages to earth.
Test Yourself 19.4
2. Why do some appliances use a three-pin plug while
others use a two-pin plug?
Answer:
Appliances with double insulation may use a two-pin
plug.
Appliances that requires earthing will need to use a three-
pin plug.
Test Yourself 19.4
3. What is the function of a fuse? Where must it be
connected in a circuit?
Answer:
A fuse prevents excessive current flow through the
appliance. It is connected to the live wire.
Test Yourself 19.4
4. What is the purpose of the earth wire? Where must it be
connected?
Answer:
The earth wire provides a conducting path for current to
flow to earth and prevents the metal casing from
becoming ‘live’. It is connected to the metal casing of
appliances.
Practical electricity
Safety
Heating effect Hazards Wiring
precautions
expressed in
Energy unit
kWh