Class 10

Chapter - Magnetic effects of electric current.

Magnet

A Magnet is an object which attracts pieces of iron, steel, nickel and

cobalt i.e. it applies force on these objects. It has various types. The
most common are - Bar Magnet, horse shoes magnet, Magnetic
needle and magnetic compass.

Properties of a magnet

 A magnet attracts the magnetic materials like iron, cobalt and

zinc.
 When a magnet is freely suspended, it always aligns towards
north-south direction.
 Like poles always repel & opposite poles attract each other.
 The poles of a magnet always exists in pairs ( dipole ).
 The poles of a magnet can never be separated.

Magnetic field

The space surrounding a magnet in which magnetic force can be

experienced is called magnetic field. It has both magnitude as well as
direction ( Vector quantity )

Magnetic field lines

Magnetic field lines are imaginary line to show the magnetic field of a
magnet.
Properties of Magnetic Field LinesLine

 Magnetic field lines are imaginary line used to show magnetic

field in a given region
 Magnetic field lines arise from north pole to south out side the
magnet and from south pole to north pole inside the magnet.
 They are always in the form of closed continuous curves.
 Field lines never intersect each other. ( Because if we place the
magnetic compass at the point of intersection it will show only
one direction and two direction.
 The closeness of magnetic field lines show their relative strength.
 The tangent at any point on the magnetic field line gives the
direction of magnetic field at that point.

Magnetic Field Due to a Current-carrying Conductor

A Danish physicist and chemist Hans Christian Oersted, once

performing an experiment saw that a current flowing in a circuit
caused deflection of compass needle which was kept near to it.

He then concluded that current carrying wire produces Magnetic field.

Magnetic Field due to a Current through a Straight Conductor

When current is passed through a straight current-carrying conductor,
a magnetic field is produced around it. Using the iron filings, we can
observe that they align themselves in concentric circles around the
conductor.

It has been found by the experiment that :

 The strength of magnetic field at a point increases with increase

of the current.
 The strength of magnetic field decreases on increasing the
distance of the point of observation from the wire.
Therefore,
Right - hand Thumb rule

To find the direction of Magnetic field, Right Thumb Rule is used.It

states that,

If a straight conductor is held in the right hand in such a way that the
thumb points along the direction of the current, then the tips of the
fingers or the curl of the fingers show the direction of magnetic field
around.

Maxwell’s corkscrew rule

Imagin driving a corkscrew in the direction of current, then the

direction in which we turn the handle is the direction of magnetic
field and the current is vertically downwards.
Magnetic field due to current through a circular loop

 It is represented by concentric circle at every point. Circle will

become larger and larger as one move away.
 As we move away from the wire these concentric line become
bigger and at the center they become straight.
  Every segment of the wire creates a magnetic field with in the
loop which is in the same direction ( either inwards or outwards )
 The magnetic field is maximum at the centre and decreases
along the axis of the loop.

Strength (Magnitude) of the magnetic field at the center of the coil.

 The strength of the magnetic field increases if the current

flowing in wore increases and vice - versa.

 The strength of the magnetic field decreases with increase in the

radius of the loop.

 If the number of turns (N) of wire are increased in circular coil,

then the strength of magnetic field also increases.Greater the
value of N,greater is the strength of loop.

Magnetic field due to a Solenoid

Solenoid : A coil of many circular turns of insulated copper wire
wrapped closely in the shape of a cylinder is called a solenoid.

 The pattern of the magnetic field is similar to that of a bar

magnet.
 One end of the solenoid is a magnetic north pole and the other
end is the magnetic south pole.
 The magnetic lines of forces are almost uniform inside the
solenoid and is directed from south pole to north pole.
 The magnetic lines of forces are non - uniform outside the
solenoid and directed from north pole to south pole.

Finding north pole and south pole of a solenoid

 At a circular end of the solenoid if the current flows in the

anticlockwise direction then that end is north pole.
 On the other hand at a circular end of the solenoid if the current
flows in the clockwise direction then that ends is the south pole.
Strength ( Magnitude) of magnetic field produced by a solenoid

 The strength of a current in the solenoid : Larger the current

( I )passes through solenoid, stronger will be the magnetic field
( B ) produced.

 The number of turns in the solenoid : Large the number of

turns ( N ) in the solenoid, greater will be the magnetic field
( B ) produced.

 The nature of 'core material' used in making solenoid ( The

use of soft iron rod as core in a solenoid produces the
strongest magnetism.

Electromagnet
 An electromagnet is an artificial magnet which produces a
magnetic field on the passage of electric current through a
conductor.
 An electromagnet consists of along coil of insulated copper wire
wound on a soft iron core.It must be soft iron core because soft
iron loses all of its magnetism as soon as the current in the coil is
switched off.

Factors affecting strength of an Electromagnet

 The magnitude of current affects the strength of an
electromagnet, larger is the current (I) stronger is the
magnetic field.

 The magnitude of current also depends on number of turns

per unit area, large the number of turns strong is the

magnetic field.
uses of electromagnets
 For electrical devices such as electric trains
 For moving big objects of iron from one place to another.
  For removing small iron splinter from an eye of a patient.

Magnetic force on a current carrying wire

If a current carrying wire is placed in a magnetic field, then force acts

on that wire. This phenomenon was discovered by Ampere. As the
direction of current (i) is reversed, the magnetic force also acts in
different direction.

 As current increases, force acting on wire also increases.

 As length of the wire increases, value of force increases.
 More magnetic field, more force acting on wire.
 Direction of force depends on direction of current and magnetic
field.

Fleming's left hand rule

Note : About this topic write it yourself from your NCERT text book.

Electric Motor

Electric Motor is a device that converts electrical energy into

mechanical energy.

 Principle: As current flows in the coil placed in the magnetic field

then force is produced that rotates the coil.
 Construction :Electric motor consists of the following five
components.
1. Armature : A current carrying coil is called armature.
2. Field magnets : Magnests that create magnetic field in which
armature is placed.
3.Split rings or commutator : It is a ring that is cut from between
and reverses the direction of flow of electric current through a
circuit.
Or
Commutator : Commutator is a device which reverses the
direction of flow of electric current through a circuit.
4.Brushes : Brushes are the sliding contacts made up of carbon.
 5.BatteryBattery : Battery is connected across the brushes to
supply current to the armature.
 Working :
- Due to battery, current flows in the loop placed in magnetic
field.
- Magnetic field applies force on loop so that it rotates. Thus,
electrical energy is converted into magnetic energy.
- But for loop to rotate continuously in one direction, direction
of force on wires should keep changing after every half
revolution.
- This is achieved by split rings. They facilitate the change in
direction of current.
- Reversal of direction of current reverses the direction of forces
acting on the coil. The change in direction of force pushes the
coil; and it moves another half turn.
- This helps in continuous rotation of the coil.
Note : You can also write yourself from your NCERT text book.

Electromagnetic Induction (EMI)

 Flow of induced current in a coil when a magnetic field changes
in the region of coil, this phenomenon is called Electromagnetic
Induction.
Whenever there is a change in magnetic field in the region of coil,
current flows. This can be shown as below,
 Magnet kept stationary near or inside the coil : No deflection

 Magnet moved into the coil : Monetary deflection in

galvanometer ( G ) indicating presence of current.

 Magnet is withdrawn : Momentary deflection in

galvanometer ( G ) but in opposite direction of first case.

 similar observations are made in case of primary and secondary

coils.
 Flemings Right hand rule

Note : write it yourself from your NCERT text book.

Lenz's Law : Lenz's law state that " the direction of induced current in
the closed coil or circuit always oppose the cause that produces it ".
AC and DC

AC refers to Alternating Current. It changes the direction after equal

intervals of time.In India the frequency of AC current us 50 Hz means
AC changes direction after every 1/100 second.

DC refers to Direct Current. It does not change its direction.Thus a

unidirectional current is produced.

Advantage of AC over DC

- Electric power in AC can be transmitted over a long distance without

much loss of energy.

- AC equipments are more durable and convenient to use as

compared to DC equipments.

Electric Generator (AC Dynamo)

It is a device which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.

 Principle : An electric generator works on the principle of

electromagnetic induction.
Construction:

 Magnetic field.
 An Armature ( a rectangular loop ABCD )
 Two full Slip rings are attached to rectangular loop.
 Two carbon brushes touch the two rings.
 Both brushes form loop through galvanometer

Working:

 The coil of the generator is rotated with the help of an axel.

 As this coil turns clockwise arm AB moves up an arm CD goes
down, the direction of current is from A to B in AB and C to D in
CD.
 The induced current is taken out through slip rings and carbon
brushes. A
 fter half this rotation A B and C D interchange their position Now
CD moves upward and AB moves downwards.
 The direction of induced current is from D to C in CD and B to A
in AB, during this half rotation.
 The slip rings R1 and R2 also rotate along with the coil ABCD.
 Thus their polarity keep changing after every half rotation .
 Thus the current changes its direction twice in one complete
revolution of the coil.
Such current which changes its polarity after fixed intervals is
called alternating current and this type of generator is called AC
generator.

DC Generator :
In case of DC generator, split rings are used instead of full rings and
they make the current to flow in single direction. Split rings
( commutator ) makes the current ‘i’ to flow in single direction
through galvanometer.

Domestic electric circuits :

Three kinds of wires are used in domestic electric circuits.

 Live wire red in colour

 Neutral wire with black insulation cover
 Earth wire with green insulation cover.
 The potential difference between live and neutral wire in India is
220V.

Short circuit : The interconnecting of the live wire and neutral wire
due to melting of wire insulation resilts in short circuiting. It may arise
due to overloading or voltage fluctuation or poor quality of wire. The
short circuit often causes fire. It can be prevented by using a fuse of
proper rating.

Overloading : Overloading means drawing more current than the

rated value. If a large number of electric devices are connected in a
circuit that draws large current and the circuit is of low resistance
than this results into over heating of connecting wires which may lead
to fire.
Safty Devices : Now day to avoid short circuiting and overloading may
safty devices are used in domestic circuits like fuse, MCB ( miniature
Circuit Breaker) and Earthing.

Electric Fuse

 It is a safety device to limit the current in an electric circuit.

 It prevents the electric appliances from damage.
 It is made up of material which has high resistivity and low
melting point.
 Two tyoes of fuse ratings are used 5 A for lightning and fans and
15 A for running geyser, heater and other heavy current devices.

Earthing : Earthing means to connect the metallic case of electric

appliance to earth. This is done to avoid the risk of fatal electric
shocks from the appliances used in day to day life.

When live wire if any faulty appliance comes in contact with the
metallic body or casing the whole case acquire a high potential of live
wire. If a person touches such a appliance will get shock. But if the
appliance is earth than this heavy current passes to the earth and in
mean time the fuse will blow off. Thus the person will be saved from
the electric shock.

[ Notes By Satyendra Shrivastav ]