DAV PUBLIC SCHOOL, NERUL

CLASS – VII
SUBJECT – SCIENCE
TOPIC – Electric Current and its Effects
NOTES

A. Fill in the blanks

1. When current is switched on, an electric fan converts electric energy into
mechanical energy.
2. When current is switched on in a room heater, it converts electric energy
into heat energy.
3. We prefer a wire of nichrome for making the heating element in
domestic appliances like the electric iron, electric heater and the electric
toaster.
4. A safety device, based on the heating effect of current is fuse.
5. Electromagnet should show rapid magnetism when the current is
switched on.

B. Write True or False for the following statements.

1. An electric current can produce a heating effect but not a magnetic effect.
False.
2. The heating coils/elements of different electrical appliances are usually
made from copper or aluminum wires. False
3. When the current through a fuse wire exceeds its specified value, the fuse
wire melts and breaks. True.
4. Connecting many devices in a single socket is not likely to cause any
problem in a circuit. False
5. The strength of an electromagnet can be increased by decreasing the
number of turns of its coil. False.

C. Tick the correct option

 1. When electric current flows through a filament of electric bulb, the
filament gives out – both heat and light energy.
2. A fuse wire is a wire of – high resistivity and low melting point.
3. We are more likely to observe a strong magnetic effect with a – current
carrying circular coil of many turns wound on a soft iron core.
4. A common house hold device, that uses an electromagnet in its working,
is – the electric bell.
5. A good electromagnet would – act like a magnet when the current is
on but would not do so when the current is off.

D. Answer the following questions in brief.

1. The bulb in the circuit shown in the figure does not glow. Why?
Redraw the circuit diagram by making the necessary changes in it, so
that the bulb starts glowing.
Ans. a) The two cells are not connected correctly.
b) And the switch is in the off position.
Because of these two reasons the bulb in the circuit is not glowing.
When the switch is in on position and the cells are connected properly, only
then the bulb will glow.
2. Name three practical devices based on the heating effect of current.
Ans. Electric toaster, geyser and electric iron, induction cooker, electric
kettle, electric heater etc.
3. Write two special characteristics of the wire needed for making the
element of an electric heater.
Ans. Element or heating coil is made up of nichrome because
a) It has a high melting point
b) It has a high resistivity
c) It can remain red hot for a long time without getting oxidized or burned
out.
4. Give the meaning of the terms ’short circuiting’ and ‘overloading’ in
an electric circuit.
 Ans. Short circuiting – when hot wires touches conductive object its not
supposed to. It can lead to damage, electrical shock or even a fire.
Overloading – An overload occurs when your devices draw more electrical
power than a circuit can safely handle. i.e when more device is connected to
a socket.
5. Do you think an electromagnet can be used for separating plastic
bags from a garbage heap? Explain.
Ans. Electromagnets can be used only to pick up magnetic substance like
Iron, Nickel and Cobalt.
6. State any three applications of an electromagnet.
Ans. a) They are used in electric toys, electric bells, loudspeakers and
telephone diaphragms, MCB.
b) Giant electromagnets are used in mobile cranes to lift and transfer
heavy iron rods and machinery.
c) Doctors use tiny magnets to take out small devices of magnetic
materials that might have fallen in the eyes.

E. Answer the following questions.

1. The same amount of electric current flows through the connecting
wires and the bulb filament. However, it is only the filament that
glows. Why?
Ans. The filament of the bulb is made up of Tunsten which has some
special characteristics like
a) It has high melting point.
b) It becomes white –hot and glows brightly for a long time
c) Quiet stable and has a long life without getting burnt or oxidized.
The connecting wire do not have such characteristics. So it does not glow.

2. The brightness of light, emitted by a bulb, is observed to decrease

when an electric heater is connected in series with it. Suggest the likely
reason for this observation.
Ans. The voltage is divided into two parts, so the available voltage for the
bulb is less than 220V. The brightness of light emitted from the bulb will
decrease as some of the voltage will be cut off from the bulb in order to
 provide full current to the heater. The heater needs more current to work
as compared to the bulb.

3. Suggest an experiment set up to illustrate the action of an electric

fuse.
Ans. To understand the working of
an electric fuse take a thin strip of
aluminum foil about 5 cm in length.
Fix its two ends on the tips of the
two nails placed vertically on the
table. Connect the two nails to a
battery through a plug key and a
small bulb. When the switch is put
on, the aluminum strip burns out
immediately. The circuit breaks and
current stops flowing. This is how an
electric fuse works using the heating
effect of current.

4. A novice electrician, while carrying out some repairs in Sumit’s house,

tried to put a piece of tungsten wire in a fuse. Sumits’s father on
noticing this, stopped him from doing so. Give reason as to why he did
that.
Ans. The role of the fuse wire is to melt and break the circuit when the
current exceeds a maximum safe value. If the wire get overheated or a
short circuit takes place, the device or gadget could get damaged and it can
also result in shock or fire as there is no fuse wire.

5. Draw a labelled diagram of an electric bell and explain its working.

Ans. Electric bell consists of a gong, an electromagnet, a soft iron rod or
armature and a contact screw.
WORKING:
• When current flows through the
electromagnet, it acquires
magnetism and attracts the
armature.
• As the armature bends towards the
electromagnet, the gong is struck.
At the same time, the contact
between the armature and the
contact screw breaks and the circuit
is switched off.
• The electromagnet loses its
magnetism and no longer attracts
the armature
• The armature gets pulled back to its original position by spring action
and circuit gets completed. The cycle repeats itself again and again and
the gong struck again and again
• Due to this alternate making and breaking of the circuit, the electric bell
keeps on ringing till the switch is pressed.

EXTRA QUESTIONS

Q1. Give reason

a) Filament in a bulb is made up of tungsten
Ans. The filament of the bulb is made up of tungsten because
d) It has high melting point.
e) It becomes white –hot and glows brightly for a long time
f) Quiet stable and has a long life without getting burnt or oxidized.

b) Fuse wire is made of an alloy of tin and lead.

• Ans. A fuse wire is made of an alloy of lead and tin because it has high
resistivity and low melting point. So when the wire gets overheated, the
fuse wire will melt and break the circuit preventing shock, fire or damage
to the appliances.
Q2. What is the heating effect of electric current called?
Ans. When electric current flows through electric devices, it produces heat
energy. This is known as Joule’s heating effect of electric current.

Q3. What is MCB? How does it work?

Ans. MCBs (Miniature circuit breakers) are electric switches which
automatically turn off when the current exceeds its safe limit. They work on
the basis of magnetic effect of current.

Q4. Differentiate between conductors and insulators.

Conductors Insulators
1.Materials that allow electricity to 1.Materials that do not allow
flow easily through them is called electricity to flow easily through
good conductors of electric current. them is called bad conductors of
2. These materials do not get electric current or insulators.
charged by rubbing. 2. These materials get charged by
3. Most of the metals are good rubbing.
conductors of electricity. 3. Most of the non-metals are bad
Ex. Iron, copper, Aluminum, silver, conductors of electricity.
Magnesium, Zinc, Ex. Plastic, rubber, wood, ebonite,

Q5.Write any two practical applications of electromagnet.

Ans. a) Electromagnets are used in electric toys, electric bells,
loudspeakers and telephone diaphragms, MCB.
b) Giant electromagnets are used in mobile cranes to lift and transfer
heavy iron rods and machinery.