Grade X
Magnetic Effects of Electric Current
Magnetic Field: It is the region surrounding a magnet, in which force of magnet can be
detected. It is a vector quantity, having both direction and magnitude.
Magnetic Field Lines: Magnetic field lines are imaginary lines and they represent the strength
and direction of magnetic field.
Properties of Magnetic Field lines:
1. The direction of magnetic field lines outside the magnet is always from North Pole to
South Pole of bar magnet and are indicated by an arrow. Inside the magnet, the
direction of field lines is from its south pole to north pole
2. Magnetic field lines are closed and continuous curves
3. The strength of magnetic field is expressed by the closeness of magnetic field lines.
Closer the lines, more will be the strength and farther the lines, less will be the magnetic
field strength.
4. No two field lines will intersect each other. If they intersects, then at point of
intersection the compass needle will show two direction of magnetic field which is not
possible.
Magnetic field due to a current-carrying conductor:
A straight thick copper wire is placed between the points X and Y in an electric circuit. A
compass needle is placed near this copper wire. The magnetic needle can only be deflected by
the interaction of another magnetic field
Observations:
(i) The magnetic needle deflects when it is brought near the current carrying conductor. (ii)
The deflection in the needle becomes opposite when the direction of the current is
reversed.
Conclusion:
(i) The deflection in the needle indicates that the current carrying wire produces the magnetic
field in the surrounding space.
(ii) On reversing the direction of current, the direction of magnetic field is also reversed.
Magnetic Field due to Current through a Straight Conductor:
(i) The magnetic field lines around a current carrying
conductor are concentric circles whose centres lie on
the conductor.
(ii) The magnitude of the magnetic field produced at a
given point increases as the current through the wire
increases.
(iii)On reversing the direction of current, the direction of
magnetic field is also reversed.
Right Hand Thumb Rule:
It is a convenient way of finding the direction of magnetic
field associated with current carrying conductor. If a
current carrying conductor is held in the right hand such
that the thumb points in the direction of current, then
the fingers wrapped around the conductor shows the
direction of the magnetic field.
Magnetic Field due to a current through a circular loop:
(i) The magnetic field lines at every point on the circular
current carrying coil are concentric circles.
(ii) The magnetic field lines at the centre of the loop are
straight and perpendicular to the plane of coil.
(iii) Magnetic field strength can be increased by
a) Increasing the strength of current flowing
through the coil.
b) Increasing the number of turns of the coil.
c) Decreasing the radius of the coil.
Solenoid:
A Coil of many circular turns of insulated copper wire wrapped closely in the shape of a cylinder
is called solenoid. It is used to create strong magnetic field inside the coil. It produces magnetic
field when electric current passed through it.
Magnetic Field due to a Current in a Solenoid:
When an electric current flows through the solenoid, the shape of the magnetic field lines is very
similar to the field of a bar magnet. Therefore the
solenoid behaves as a bar magnet when electric
current flows through it.
The field inside a solenoid is strong and uniform.
The small magnetic fields caused by the current in
each coil add together to make a stronger overall
magnetic field.
Electromagnet:
Strong magnetic field inside the solenoid can be used to magnetize a magnetic material for
example soft iron, when it is placed inside the coil. The magnet so formed is called as
electromagnet.
Clock Face rule:
Force on a conductor carrying current placed in a magnetic field:
A.M. Ampere suggested that if a current carrying conductor produces a magnetic field and
exerts a force on a magnet, then a magnet should also exert a force on a current carrying
conductor.
If an aluminum rod is suspended horizontally by a wire between the poles of a horse shoe
magnet and current is passed through the wire, then the aluminum rod is displaced. If the
direction of current is reversed, the direction of displacement is also reversed. The force
exerted is maximum if the conductor is perpendicular to the magnetic field. The force is zero
when the conductor is parallel or anti parallel to the magnetic field.
The rod experiences a force, when it is placed in magnetic field, in a perpendicular direction to
its length.
The direction of force (displacement of conductor) reverses when the direction of current
through the conductor is reversed.
If the direction of magnetic field is changed by inter changing the two poles of the magnet, then
the direction of force (displacement of conductor) will change. The factors on which force on
current carrying conductor depends are:
(i) The strength of magnetic field,
(ii) The value of current being passed through the conductor,
(iii) the length of the conductor
Fleming’s left hand rule:
The direction of force (motion) experienced by a current
carrying conductor in a magnetic field is given by Fleming’s
left hand rule.
It states that, ‘ If the thumb, fore finger and middle finger of
the left hand are held perpendicular to each other such that
the fore finger points in the direction of magnetic field, the
middle finger points in the direction of current, then the
thumb shows the direction of force (motion) on the
conductor’.
Domestic electric circuits:
❖ We receive electric supply through mains supported through the poles or cables. In our
houses we receive AC electric power of 220V with a frequency of 50Hz.
❖ The 3 wires are as follows- (i) Live wire- (Red insulated, Positive)
(ii) Neutral wire- (Black insulated, Negative)
(iii) Earth wire- (Green insulated) for safety measure to ensure that
any leakage of current to a metallic body does not give any
serious shock to a user.
❖ Short circuit: A short circuit can happen if the insulation on a wire is damaged or worn out,
causing the live wire and neutral wire to touch directly. Without insulation, the current
flows with little resistance, creating a sudden, large flow of electricity. This can cause the
wires to overheat, damage appliances, and may even start a fire.
❖ Fuse: is a protective device used for protecting the circuits from short circuiting and over
load.
❖ Earth wire: The metallic body of electric appliances is connected to the earth by means of
earth wire so that any leakage of electric current is transferred to the ground. This prevents
any electric shock to the user. That is why earthing of the electrical appliances is
necessary.
❖ Overloading : In electricity, overloading occurs when too many devices are plugged into a
single socket, causing it to carry more current than it’s designed for. This extra current can
overheat the wires, potentially leading to melted insulation and even electrical fires. To
prevent overloading, it’s important to limit the number of devices plugged into one socket
and spread electrical loads across multiple outlets.
