Chapter

Magnetic Effects of
13 Electric Current
13.1 Magnetic Field and Field Lines 13.4 Electric Motor
13.2 Magnetic Field Due to a Current-Carrying 13.5 Electromagnetic Induction
Conductor
13.6 Electric Generator
13.3 Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor in
a Magnetic Field 13.7 Domestic Electric Circuit

Topicwise Analysis of 2010-2008 Years’ CBSE Board Questions

8 Maximum weightage is of Domestic Electric 8 Maximum VSA type questions were asked
Circuits. from Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor in
a Magnetic Field.
8 Maximum SA II were asked from Domestic
Electric Circuits.

QUICK RECAP

8 Magnet : A piece of iron or other material – Always aligns itself in north-south

which has its component atoms so ordered direction.
that the material exhibits properties of
8 Magnetic field : Space around a magnet
magnetism and aligning itself in an external
where its influence can be experienced by
magnetic field.
another magnet.
X Properties of a magnet
– Attracts material like iron, nickel and 8 Magnetic field lines : Curved imaginary lines
cobalt. used to show the magnetic field in a given
– Attraction is maximum at its poles. region.
Magnetic Effects of Electric Current 231

X Magnetic fields are closed continuous 8 Right-hand thumb rule :

curves directed from north pole to south pole X The straight thumb of right hand points in the
outside the magnet but from south pole to direction of electric current.
north pole inside the magnet. X The direction of the curl of fingers represents
the direction of magnetic field.

Magnetic
field
Current

Right-hand thumb rule

8 Magnetic field due to a circular coil carrying

X Tangent at any point on the magnetic field
current:
line gives the direction of magnetic field at
X The magnetic field lines are nearly circular
that point.
and concentric.
X Magnetic fields are closer together at the
X Field lines are in the same direction in the
poles and far apart at the centre.
X Never intersect each other as magnetic field space enclosed by the coil.
X Field lines are nearly straight and parallel at
cannot have two directions at one point.
the centre.
8 Magnetic field due to a straight conductor X Direction of magnetic field at the centre is
carrying current : The magnetic field due
perpendicular to the plane of the coil.
to a straight conductor carrying current is
X Magnetic field is maximum at its centre.
in the form of concentric magnetic lines of
force, whose centre lies on the conductor.
These magnetic lines of force lie in a
plane perpendicular to the plane of linear
conductor.
X Strength of magnetic field produced by a
straight current-carrying wire at a given point
is
– directly proportional to the current
passing through it.
– inversely proportional to the distance of
that point from the wire.
X Strength of magnetic field can be increased by
 
 B → magnetic field  – increasing the number of turns of wire in
I  the coil.
i.e., B ∝  I → current  – increasing the current flowing through
r
r → distance between wire and  the coil.
 point off observation 
  – decreasing the radius of the coil.
S.I. unit of magnetic field is tesla (T). 8 Magnetic field due to a current carrying
1 newton solenoid : An insulated copper wire wound
1 tesla = = 1 N m −1 A −1
1 ampere × 1 metre on a cylindrical cardboard tube such that its
C.G.S. unit of magnetic field is gauss (G). length is greater than its diameter is called a
1 tesla = 104 gauss solenoid.
232 CBSE Champion Science Class 10

X Magnetic field lines are

– Almost uniform inside the solenoid and
are directed from south pole to north
pole.
– Non-uniform outside the solenoid and
are directed from north pole to south
pole.

X Strength of magnetic field can be increased

by
– increasing the number of turns in the
solenoid.
– increasing the strength of current. 8 Electric motor :
X Device which converts electrical energy into
– using soft iron rod as core.
mechanical energy.
8 Force on a current-carrying conductor
X Works on the principle that a current-
in a magnetic field : When a current-
carrying conductor placed perpendicular to
carrying wire is placed in a magnetic field,
the magnetic field, experiences a force.
it experiences a magnetic force that depends
on 8 Electromagnetic induction : The
X Current flowing in the conductor phenomenon in which electric current is
X Magnetic field generated by varying magnetic fields is called
X Length of the conductor electromagnetic induction.
X Angle between the element of length and the
magnetic field.
i.e.,
F = BIl sin F Force
B Magnetic field
I Current
l Length of the conductor
= angle between element of
length and magnetic field

8 Fleming’s left-hand rule : The direction of

the force experienced by a current-carrying
conductor placed in a magnetic field is
determined by Fleming’s left-hand rule, i.e.,
Magnetic Effects of Electric Current 233

8 Fleming’s right-hand rule : Direction of X Works on the principle of electromagnetic

induced current in a conductor is determined induction.
by Fleming’s right-hand rule.
8 Domestic electric circuits :
X To supply electric power from one place to
another place, through the three wires i.e.,
phase wire or live wire (insulation of red
colour), neutral wire (insulation of black
color) and earth wire (insulation of green
color).
X 15 A current rating is used for appliances
with higher power ratings.
X 5 A current rating is used for appliances with
8 Electric generator : lower power ratings.
X A device which converts mechanical energy X Each appliance has equal potential difference
into electrical energy. as they are connected parallel to each other.

8 Electric fuse : A safety device used to save 8 Overloading : The condition at which a
the electrical appliances from burning when large number of higher current-flowing
large amount of current flows in the circuit. through the circuit and at the same time
X Made of a material of low melting point.
the appliances are switched on then the
X Works on the principle of heating effect of
total current drawn through the circuit may
current.
Glass tube exceed its rated value.
Metal
Metal
cap
cap 8 Short-Circuiting : The condition when the
live wire comes in direct contact with the
Fuse wire
neutral wire, a high current flows.
Electric fuse