me

cience
Electricity and Circuits
Learning Outcomes Geekspeak
After reading this chapter, you would be able to: & Conductors
Insulators
+ explain what a charge is and how does it flow. Circuit symbols
+ explain what conductors and insulators are. Electrical cell
+ understand the electric circuit and itsclassifications. & Primary cell
+ explain what an electric cell is and its types. Secondary cell
§ Close electric circuit
understand the working and uses of an electric tester and a torch.
$ Electric bulb
Electric tester
Torch
Open electric circuit
 3.2 Chapter 3

Introduction
behavior. Electricity can be
charges and their electricity
physics in which we study aboutthechargeisstationary,then the
Cectricityis a branchof IFbodyischargedbyfrictionand
epresentedbythecharges,
is called frictionalelectricity

Conductors and lnsulators

them, are called conductors(as shown in Fig. 3.1 (a)
to passthrough
Conductors: The substances, which allow electricity 3.1 (b).
Example: Silver, Aluminium, and Copper, etc. current, are calledinsulators(as shownin Fig.
low of
b eat
tondlucto Insulators: Those substan ces in whichthere is no
Example: Rubber, Wood, Plastic, etc.
Bulb
Bulb

Wood
Copper coin

Battery
Battery
(b)
(a)
Figure 3.1 (a) Bulb Lights Up, Proving Copper Coin is a Conductor, (b) Bulb does notLight Up, Proving Wood
is an Insulator

Circuit Symbols
Scientists draw particular smbols to represent electrical circuit components. The diagram made by using these symbols
eletne is known as circuit diagram. Thesymbols usedtoindicate diferent components are calledcircuit symbols. Some of these
conborerSymbols are shown in Table 3.1. Figure 3.2 represents some electric circuit components with their symbols.
Wire

Lamp Wire

Battery

BatteryT Lamp

Switch Switch
(a)
(b)
Figure 3,2 (a) Electrical Circuit (b)
Circuit Diagrams
 Electricity and Circuits 3.3

Table 3.1 Circuit Symbols

Conneting wires
Swith in the "OFF" position

Bulb

Cell

Switch in the "ON" position

Battery

Electrical Cell
We get electric current from electric cells
that means thev are the source of electric
current.
Types of Electrical Cells
The types of electric cell are discussed below and
shown in Fig. 3.3
. Primary Cells: The cells which cannot be
charged repeatedly are known as primary cells,
Example: Voltaic, Daniel, Laclanche,and Dry cells.
. Secondary Cells: The cells which can be charged
repeatedly are known as secondary cells.
Example: Edison cell, Lead-acid accumulator

Voltaic cell (Size AA) 9V Battery (Non-Chargeable) Battery (Rechargeable)

Figure 3.3 Types of Electrical Cell
Note: Acombination of cells is known as a battery.

Check Point 1
1. Electrical switches, plugs, sockets, etc., are made of_ Cemdudlgs
2. Thehandle of an electrician's screwdriver is made of__Aale
3. Acombinationof more than one cell is known as a
4. An electrical cell has terminals.

5. Voltaic cellis an example of which type of cell. (Primary /Secondary)

 3.4 Chapter 3

Electrical Circuits
The path of flow of electricity from one
terminal of the cell to the other is called an electrical circuit
Fig. 3.4). (as
table Un NBeshown n
Open Electric Circuit
An electric circuit through which no electric
current flows is known as an open electric circuit (as shown in
we take out the key ie. switch off the circuit or connecting wires
electric circuit.
Fig,be o
are broken at some point, then that circuit will 3.5),K
Closed Circuit
An electriccircuit through which electric current flows
The complete circuit should be made using conductors continuously is known as a closed circuit (as shown in Fig. 3,6
the path of electrical circuits make the in order to flow the electric current through it.
circuit incomplete. Insulators is

Figure 3.5 Electric Circuit

Figure 3.4 Electric Circuit
(Open)
Figure 3.6 Electric Circuit
(Close)

The Requirement of a Closed

The first and important condition for the
Conducting Path
path should necessarily connects the twoelectric current to flow is a closed path which can conduct electric current. This
cell. You can imagine the terminals of the electric
electric
seen in a water park. The flow ofcircuit the water circuit you have
as
water through pipes can be find
similar to the flowing of charges through the wires. If
pipe broke or gets plugged, then the circuit will be somehow the
of water will cease. broken and flow
Keystone
All the Electricity travels at the speed of light,
made up of componentsas they
conductors
used to make electric circuit, should be
conduct electricity.
about 300,000 kilometres per second
(3 x 10 m/s).

Testing Room 1
Take asmall bulb, a cell, and a
bulb. Now, test the different piece of wire. Connect the wire from one terminal of the cell to one
of bulb as shown in substances by keeping them between the positive terminal of tie
figure below. terminal of cell and other termina
 Electricity and Circuits 3.5

Metal Wad of
Paper Clip Paper
(conductor) (insulator)

(a) Circuit is Established (b) NoCircuit is Established

because of the Insulator

Requirements of a Circuit
consists of a battery or cell, aswitch, connecting wires, and a bulb, Acircuit needs to be closed for
Anelectriccìrcuit through i
lectriccurrentto flow

Testing Room 2
Find the ways to light the Bulb
Jou aregiven a small light bulb, an electrochemical cell, and a bare copper
wire. Arrange these components in different ways so that you find four
electric circuits which make the bulb glows.
Components used to glow a bulb:
. Cell
.Bare wire
. Bulb
" Switch
. Holder

nattempt A, the wire does not loop back to the negative terminal of the cell. In attempt B, the wire is not making loop
closed loop is formed. Attempt D resembles
rom negative terminal of cell to the terminal of bulb. In attempt C, no In attempt E, The wires are
ttempt B in that, there is a loop, but it emerges from the bulb and ends there as well,
will flow but this will not make
onnected from positive terminalof cellto the negative terminal of the cell. The current
in Fig, 3.7).
ne bulb glowas two terminals of light bulb are not included in the loop (as shown

Keystone
Electricity causes muscle cells in your
heart to contract and relax, essentially
Attempt A Attempt B Attempt C Attempt D Attempt E making it beat.

gure 3.7 Five Unsuccessful Attempts at Lighting the Light Bulb

of cell which will
AUTION: In attempt E, the current will flow at a very high value from positive to negative terminal
cautiously.
Tse the temperature of wire. Your fingers will get hot due to this. Hold it
 3.6 Chapter 3

INTEXT QUESTIONS
its
1. When an electric
cell does not produce electric current? terminals are not connected properly, or
whenits chemicals
An electric cell doesn't producecurrent
Solution:
used up.
electricity?
cell use to produce
2. What does an electriccelluses chemicals toproduce electricity.
Solution: An electric

Check Point 2
glow? NO
just the positive terminal of the cell will the bulb
6. If the bulb is connected to
7. Adevicethat makes or breaksaofcircuit is called_AwA..stok
the circuit to make the bulb glow?
8. What can be placed in the path will the bulb glow? NO
path of theelectric circuit
9. Ifapiece of woodis placed in the

Electric Devices
television.
functioning. For example, electric bulb, fan, refrigerator,
Electric devices depend on electrical energy for their supplied to them. Some of the electric devices are discussed a
etc., allthese appliances work only when electric current
follows:

Electric Bulb
The very thin wire inside a bulb is made of tungsten and i_ called the filament of the bulb (as
shown in Fig. 3.8). The
properties of tungsten ensure that while the filament gets white hot, it does not melt. This tungsten wire is twisted around
to form a tight coil. As this wire is thin, long, and heavy, it is supported by two thicker and stronger wires.
One of these thick wires is connected to the metal case at the base of the bulb, whereas the other one is connected to
the metat up at the centre ofthe base, thus forming the two terminals of the bulb.
Now, in the Fig. 3.9(b), you will notice that the filament is broken. Willthis bulb glow? No, because the path for the
current to flow is not complete, i.e., the bulb has fused. Compareatable lamp bulb with a torch bulb andlist their difference.
Glass bulb

Filament Filament Filament

Supporting wire

-Metal case
(a) (b)
Figure 3,8 Electric Bulb Figure 3,9 (a) Filament is Intact, (b) Filament is Broken, and
the Bulb is Fused

INTEXT QUESTIONS
3. Why do bulbs have two terminals?
Solution: Abulb has a filament which consists of two terminals to connect the filament to the circuit so that curre
can pass through it.
 Electricity and Circuits 3.7

bulb.does not glow. Why?

fused Afused bulb does not glow because the filament is broken,
Solution:
A
thecircuittis incomplete.
anddthus,
Howdoes a
bulb produce light?
5. Solution: Athin wire like structure known as filament is present inside
When we switch on the bulb, electricity passes through the
thebulb. to
filament causingit and
heat up glow to produce light.
ElectricSwitch Figure 3.10 Electric Switch
Off and Switch On
electricSwitch is a device which is used to open and close the electric
An in Fig. 3.10). In the OFF condition, the switch breaks the
circuit(as shown
circuit, making
electric currentstop flowing. While in ON
the condition,
electric Switch connects the ends of the electric circuit which starts.
the
flow of current. Thus, we can say that an electric switch is one of the
the electric circuit
important components of an
ElectricTester
nelectric tester consists of an electric cell, a torch bulb fitted in a holder
and some connecting copper wires (as shown in Fig. 3.11). The material
n he tested is connected to the gap, left between the ends A and B of
ihe connecting wires. If the bulb lights up at once, the given material is
conductor. If the bulb does not light up at all, the given material is an Figure 3.1l Circuit Diagram of an
insulator. Electric Tester

Checking an Electric Tester

We need to check the electric tester before, we conduct any activity or
experiment. Join the free ends of the tester together for a moment. This ID
However, if
completes the circuit of the tester, and the bulb should glow. possible conductor or
working the
the bulb does not glow, it means that the tester is not insulator
reasons are:
connections are tight.
Reason 1: Connections are loose, check that all the
another new bulb.
Reason 2: The bulb is fused. Replace the bulb with
a fresh one.
Reason 3: The cell is used up. Replace the cell with Electric cell
Modification of Electric Tester LED
any color
through an electric tester
The bulb glows when the electriccurrent passes passes through the bulb, the
(as shown in Fig. 3.12). When the current Figure 3.12 Modified Circuit
it starts glowing. However,
hlament gets heated to a high temperature andfilament
the does not get heated Diagram of an Electric Tester
if the current through a circuit is too weak, an LED in place of the
suficiently and it does not glow. So, we can use
electric bulb in the tester.
(as shown in Fig. 3.13). It is
An LED means a light emitting diode
LED glows even when
similar to a bulb, but it runs on very low voltages. lights that you see
coloured
a weak electriccurrent flows through it. The keypads of mobile phones
in retail stores, stages, bridges and even in the
are all LEDs.
to an LED, One lead is
There are two wires (called leads) attached longer lead is
acircuit the
slightly longer than the other while connecting tobattery
the and the shorter lead
always connected to the positive terminal of battery.
0s connected to the negative terminal of the
When astandard bulb in the electric tester is replaced by LED, it can Figure 3.13 LED of Different
acircuit. Colours
easily detect even a weakelectric current in
 3.8 Chapter 3

Three Pin Plug

A3-pin plug has three pins (two bottom pins are small and one top
Keystone
pin is big). These are designed such that all the electric appliances LED light bulbs use about
receive the electricity in a safe manner. A3-pin plug description is one-sixth
the electricity that conventional
of
shown in Fig. 3.14.
One of the bottom pins is attached to live wire which has a
do, cost about a quarter as much to e bulbs
and last about 40 times longer.
brown insulation cover. This is connected to a fuse on the live pin,
the electric current flows through the live wire.
One of the other bottom pins is attached to neutral wire which
an exit through the applianc
has a blue insulation cover. The electric current flows through the neutral wire, to makecover.
yellow insulation This is used to profex
The top pin is attached to earth wire which has a green and
appliance when the live wire comes in the contact with the metal surface of the appliance. So, all the excess Currensa
to the earth.

Fuse
Earth
3A
Neutral
Live
Cord grip

Figure 3.14 Three Pin Plug

Competition Corner
Earthing: The earthing wire having green and yellow Insulation (Plastic covering): The electric wires are
insulation is used as a safety measure. If there is any made up of copper through which electric current flows
leakage of current to an appliance which has a
body, it lets the current flow into the earth metallic
If anybody touches the wire, he/she may get an
without electric
shock. So, the outer covering and handles of the devices
shocking the appliance and people. like switches, wires, screw drivers, tester, are made
using
plastic (Bakelite). Plastic is a bad conductor of electricity,
so it does not let the current flow
through
it.

ElectricTorch Plastio
Reflector casing
Switch

An electrictorch consists of a
battery, a switch, and an
LED bulb as shown in the Fig, 3,15.
LED

Battery

Figure 3.15 Torch

 Electricity and Circuits 3.9

Doesan Electric
Torch Work? Switch
How
h one or more dry cells inside, which acts as
electrictorchhas
An
source. Thesecells are connectedIthrough aswitch to asmall
the
Whentheswitch is
to the 'on' position, the circuit
pushed 3V
bulb. When the switch is pushed to
completeand bulb glows.
the Lamp
is position,the circuit is incomplete (broken). (20-size cells)
the off'
Torch
Circut Diagramof
electric cells, aswitch, alamp, and atorch bulb.
There aretwo
sinesin the diagram represent the metal conductors which Figure 3. 16 Circuit Diagram of Torch
together.
connect the system
ircuit is aclosed conducting path. In the torch, closing
the circuit and allows current to flow (as
the switch completes
shown in Fig. 3.16).

Check Point 3
10. The filament of an electric bulb is made up of.
11. What type of gases are filled in an electric bulb?
12. In which ratio are the gases filled in the bulb?
13. The long limb &short limb of the LED are connected to terminals
of cell respectively.
14. In which combination cell are connected in a torch?

Competition Corner

Series Combination: When the electrical components the electric current source, this combination is called
are attached one after the other, thiscombination is called a parallel combination. In this combination, all the
a series combination. components are attached across the same amount of
Parallel Combination: When the electrical components
voltage. In this combination, all the components receive
terminals of he same amount of current.
are attached in between the same fwo

(a) SeriesCombination (b) Parallel Combination

 Caution sign boards
(3.10 Chapter 3 Boards:
bonesto
show
that have
harmedifthev the
Caution Sign
used for picture of skulland
cross pacej
come
one of the safety
devices
by
breaking the dangerous, and people
made
can get
with red
colou.
This cllose
is done o
Puse: Fuse is circuits//appliances saves are hazards. It
protecting the melting the wire inside
it. Fuse
nortcircuitingor These
pictures
possiblepeoplefrom
electric
electricity warns peopleo
shocks they can get if they comeclosex
Circuit though florprotect
circuit if there is Supldep ercess
the
overloading -> P inent wires.
touch the
or
m pt dowrn
Fuse : l o ub'and melts
heat
the ieut

net n m cell
prouided electic
Fuse wines ane an
eleclaic citut torta ning
As cell proviclas a fir ed tent
 Electricity and Circuits 3.11
STRUCTURAL OUTLINE

Closed Circuit
When current is
flowing through the
electric circuit
Electric Circuits
The closed path in Insulators
which an electric Materials that do not allow
Current can flow. electric current to flow
through them.
Open Circuit " Rubber, plastic, etc. are
When no current is examples of insulators.
flowing through the
electric circuit

Electricity Types of
and Material
Circuits

Electric Devices
" Electric Bulb
" Electric tester Conductors
Materials that allow an
" Three pin plug electric current to flow
" Electric torch through them.
Electric switch Copper, aluminium, gold,
etc. are examples of
conductors.
Electric
Source

Electric Cell
It is the source of an electric
current.
It convets chemical energy
into electrical energy.
 (312 Chapter 3
ABRIDGEMENT
termninal of the
Diterence Hetween Cell
and Battery
is connected to the negativebattery, Cell Battery
Series.
terminalofone cell cells is called a CellsConnected in
Thepositive comlbination oftvo or more above case,thelr combined i.e,,Battery
next cell,Suchaconected in series as in the In this case, the combined be
II two cells aresum of their respective
strengths,
their combined strength will
series,
sMrength iv the 1.5V3V
L,5 V+ strength 1,5 are connectedin
V,
strengthis cells,each of
Similarly, ifthreeidentical V4,5 V
L,5 V+1,5 V+1,5
fnu.
magnitude of the electric current I
klectric Current conductor in time t second, then the
coulombs tlows through a
Ilacharge ofQ given by:
through it, can be

(C).
The S.l. unit of chargeis coulombelectrons
1C= Charge on 6.25x 10"
Unitof Electrie Current through any cross section of a conductor in
current is Ampere. When one coulomb of chargeflows
The S.I.unit of electric through it is said to be Iampere.
Isecond, the electric current flowing
1s
isconnected in series in the circuit
ammeter. It hasavery low resistance and
Instrumentused to measure current is called
to measure the electriccurrent.

EXEMPLIFICATION

1. Name the positive and negative terminals of dry cell.

Solution: Positive terminal is the carbon rod with a metal cap and the negative terminal is the zinc metal plate.
2. What is a dry cell?
Solution:It is adevice which converts chemical energy into electrical energy.
3. Explain the reason why an electric bulb not glow when both the wires are connected to the same terminal
of a cell.

Solution:The current flows from one terminal to the other. When both wires are connected to same terminal.
electric current does not flow.
4. What is a battery?
Solution:The combinationof more than one cell is known as battery.
5. Why does a fused bulb not glow?
Solution: In afused bulb the filament is broken, and the circuit is incomplete. The current will not flow, andthe
bulb will not glow.
6. Name the components of an
electric circuit.
Solution: Componentsof an electric circuit
7. Write two precautions that you must are-connecting wires, bulb, switch, and cell.
follow while handling electricity.
Solution: The precautions that we must follow while
Wear rubber gloves or slippers. handling electricity are as follows:
. Never touch
switches with wet hands.