L-17, ELECTRIC CURRENT AND ITS EFFECTS

SECTION A -MULTIPLE - CHOICE QUESTIONS

1.Which of these is not a circuit element?

(a) potential difference

(b) voltmeter
(c) resistor
(d) battery

ANSWER:

(a) potential difference

2.The necessary requirement for a fuse wire is

(a) conductor with low melting point

(b) conductor with high melting point
(c) insulator with low melting point
(d) insulator with high melting point

ANSWER:

(a) conductor with low melting point

3.Which of these appliances does not use an electromagnet?

(a) washing machine

(b) refrigerator
(c) room heater
(d) electric bell

ANSWER:

(c) room heater

4.Which of these is absolutely necessary in an electric circuit?

(a) bulb
(b) switch
(c) voltmeter
(d) connecting wires
ANSWER: (d) connecting wires

5.The same current is passed through the following. Which will show the
strongest magnetic strength?

(a) straight conducting wire

(b) coil of wire
(c) solenoid wound on a wooden core
(d) solenoid wound on an iron core

ANSWER:

(d) solenoid wound on an iron core

SECTION B: VERY SHORT- ANSWER QUESTIONS

1.Which insulator does a switch use to cut off the current in a circuit?

ANSWER: Air

2.Metals are conductors of electricity. True or false?

ANSWER: True.

3.Every conductor offers resistance to the flow of electric current. True or false?

ANSWER: True;

4. A point A in a circuit is at a lower potential than point B. In which direction will

the current flow in the circuit?

ANSWER: B to A

5.In circuit, a conductor offering low resistance will heat up more than conductor
offering high resistance. True or false?

ANSWER: False;

6.Which effect of current does the filament in electric bulb utilize?

ANSWER: Heating effect of current

7.The core of an electromagnet can be made up of any metal. True or false?

ANSWER: False;

SECTION C: SHORT- ANSWER QUESTIONS:

1.What is an electric circuit?

ANSWER: An electric circuit can be defined as a closed path through which electric
current can flow. Various components such as battery, resistor, wire, key, bulb etc. can
be connected in different ways to construct an electric circuit.

2.What is the relationship between potential difference and direction of flow of

current in an electric circuit?

ANSWER: Potential difference is the difference in the potential between two terminals
of a battery or any other current source connected to an electric circuit.

In the circuit, current flows from high to low potential because electrons flow from low
potential to high potential.

3.Does every conductor heat up when an electric current is passed through it?
What does the amount of heat depend on? Name the conductor normally used in
heating appliances.

ANSWER: Yes, every conductor heats up when electric current is passed through it.
Heating is caused by the resistance provided by the conductor to the current flowing
through it. The amount of heat depends on the length, thickness and nature of the
material of conductor.

Nichrome is used in heating appliances as it offers high resistance to the flow of current.

4.A domestic circuit develops a short circuit. What will be the effect on a fuse wire
connected in the circuit?

ANSWER: A fuse wire is made up of an alloy with a low melting point. The heat
produced due to short circuit melts the fuse wire and breaks the circuit.

5.What is a miniature circuit breaker?

ANSWER: Miniature circuit breaker is a switch that automatically stops the current in a
circuit if the current in it exceeds the specified maximum limit.

6.Draw the symbols used in a circuit for-a battery of four cells, a switch, a lamp.

ANSWER:
A battery of four cells:

Switch in the ‘ON’ position:

Switch in the ‘OFF’ position:

Lamp:

SECTION D: LONG -ANSWER QUESTIONS

1.Draw a circuit diagram of a dry cell connected to a bulb through a switch. Mark
the positive and negative terminals of the cell, and the direction of flow of current
in the diagram.

ANSWER:

2.How can you increase the magnetic strength of a solenoid?

ANSWER: Magnetic strength of a solenoid can be increased by:

(i) Increasing the number of turns in the solenoid

(ii) Increasing the current in the solenoid
(iii) Winding the solenoid around a magnetic material
3.What is an electromagnet? Give three uses of electromagnets.

ANSWER: An electromagnet is a coil of insulated wire wound around a piece of a

magnetic substance such as soft iron which acts as a magnet as long as the current is
flowing in the wire.
Uses of electromagnet:
(i) Electromagnets are used in a number of electric appliances such as electric bells and
electric buzzers.
(ii) They are used in electric motors, which find wide application in fans, washing
machines etc.
(iii) Very strong electromagnets are used in factories and cranes for lifting heavy iron
pieces.

4.Explain the working of a simple electric bell.

ANSWER:

An electric bell consists of an electromagnet, an armature, a contact adjusting screw, a

gong and a hammer. The armature consists of a soft iron rod mounted on a spring. One
end of the iron rod presses against the top of the contact adjusting screw.

When the switch is pressed on, current flows in the electromagnet. It then attracts the
iron rod towards itself, causing the hammer to strike the gong. At the same time ,the
armature loses contact with the screw and the current is switched off. This causes the
electromagnet to lose its magnetism and the armature springs back to its original
position to close the circuit once again. Current flows again and the cycle repeats itself
till the current is switched off.

HOTS QUESTIONS

1.Fuse wires of miniature circuit breakers are not used in a circuit containing
electric cells. Why?
ANSWER: MCBs are most commonly used in place of fuses because it is easier to turn
on an MCB when it gets tripped.
In a circuit where electric cells are used to supply low values of voltage and current, no
fuses are required because there is very little risk of short circuit. To avoid any accident,
these fuses are used in circuits where high voltages and currents are delivered.

2.Can you use a copper wire to make the filament of an electric bulb? Why?

ANSWER: Filament of an electric bulb is made up of conductors that offer high

resistance to electric current. Copper wire cannot be used in filaments because it offers
very little resistance. Tungsten is used for making the filaments as it offers high
resistance.

3.Mohit used a fuse wire with a specification of 5 amperes in a circuit connected

to an air conditioner which draws a current of 10 amperes. What will happen when
the air conditioner is switched on? What will you advise him to do?

ANSWER: When the air conditioner is switched on, the fuse wire will melt due to extra
current.

The fuse wire must be selected keeping in mind the minimum current that will melt it. Its
specification should be slightly more than the normal operating current of the electrical
appliance.

Mohit should be advised to use a fuse wire with a specification of 15 amperes.

4.Rita used a fuse wire with a 100 amperes specification in a circuit at home which
draws a maximum current of 20 amperes when all devices in the circuit are
switched on. Do you think she used the correct fuse wire? What will you advise
her to do?

ANSWER: No, Rita did not use the correct fuse wire. The ampere rating of a fuse
should not exceed the current carrying capacity of the circuit except in some cases.
In the given circuit, she should use a fuse wire with 25 amperes specification.

5.You have seen that the heating effect of current can be put to good use. Can you
think of situations where this effect results in wastage of energy?

ANSWER: Yes, when electric current passes through long conductors, a portion of
energy is wasted in the form of heat. Also, in case of an incandescent lamp, only a part
of electricity is converted into light and the rest is wasted as heat, which is unwanted.

6.A coil with no current passing through it is suspended freely. It points in the
east-west direction. Explain what will happen if a current is passed through the
coil.
ANSWER: Current flowing through a wire gives rise to a magnetic field around it.
Therefore, if current is passed though the coil, it will become a magnet and will align
along the north-south direction.