MAGNETIC EFFECTS OF CURRENT

I. ORESTED EXPERIMENT AND RESULTS:

Whenever current is passing through any thick conducting wire then, there should be a
magnetic field (B) developed around the wire in concentric circular loops.

The observations of the experiment can be summarised as

➢ Magnetic field (B)  Current (I) ----1
➢ Magnetic field (B)  1/ r-------------2
By 1 &2
B  I/r
i.e Magnetic Field developed is directly proportional to current in the current and
inversely proportional to the distance. As we move away from the conductor the
strength or intensity of magnetic field reduces.

II. MAGNETIC FIELD LINES

Magnetic Lines of Force are imaginary lines representing the direction of magnetic field such
that the tangent at any point is the direction of the field at that point.
Or
Magnetic lines show the path of magnetic compass when it is placed in magnetic field.

III. PROPERTIES OF MAGNETIC FIELD LINES:

1. The Magnetic Field lines are like closed curves. They originate from the North Pole and
end at the South Pole by convention.
2. Closer the Field Lines the stronger is the Magnetic Field and vice versa.
3. They never intersect each other. Reason: because at the point of intersection there will be
two directions of magnetic field which not possible practically.
 4. Crowdedness of Magnetic Field shows the strength of Magnetic Field.

IV. MAGNETIC FIELD DUE TO A STRAIGHT CURRENT CARRYING

CONDUCTOR

1. The deflection will tend to increase when the current in the wire is increased.
2. The strength of the magnetic field is directly proportional to the magnitude of the
electric current through the wire.
3. When a current-carrying wire is brought close to a magnetic compass then there will be
a deflection in the magnetic compass due to the magnetic field formation.
4. The deflection increases with the increased current in the wire because the magnetic
force is directly proportional to the magnetic field strength.
5. Thus, we can say that the stronger the current, the stronger the magnetic force acting
on the needle of the magnet.
6. The direction of deflection in the needle will reverse if the direction of flow of current
in the circuit is reversed.
 V. MAGNETIC FILED DUE TO A CURRENT THROUGH A STRAIGHT
CONDUCTOR

➢ A current carrying straight conductor has magnetic field in the form of

concentric circles, around it.
➢ Magnetic field of current carrying straight conductor can be shown by magnetic
field lines.
➢ The direction of magnetic field through a current carrying conductor depends
upon the direction of flow electric current.
To find the Magnetic Field at any point P at a distance r from the conductor is given by:
➢ Magnetic field (B)  Current (I)
➢ Magnetic field (B)  1/ r
➢ Magnetic Field (B) also depends on the medium
 B= 0 I/ 2r

VI. DIRECTION LAW (MAGNETIC FIELD)

VII. RIGHT HAND THUMB RULE

Maxwell’s Right-Hand Thumb Rule: If a current carrying conductor is held by right

hand, keeping the thumb straight and if the direction of electric current is in the direction
of thumb, then the direction of wrapping of other fingers will show the direction of
magnetic field.

Or
 Maxwell’s Corkscrew Rule

As per Maxwell’s Corkscrew Rule, if the direction of forward movement of screw shows the
direction of the current, then the direction of rotation of screw shows the direction of magnetic
field.
COMPARISON BETWEEN RIGHT HAND THUMB RULE AND CORKSCREW RULE

RIGHT HAND RULE CORK SCREW RULE

Suppose we are holding a straight current Suppose we have a corkscrew. Point the
carrying wire in a right hand. Put the thumb pointed tip of the corkscrew in the direction
in the direction in which the current is in which the current is flowing. The direction
flowing. The direction in which our fingers in which the screw rotates is the direction of
curl is the direction of the magnetic field. the magnetic field.

SUMMARY
FLOW OF CURRENT MAGNETIC FIELD DIRECTION
BOTTOM TO TOP CLOCKWISE (LEFT TO RIGHT)
TOP TO BOTTOM ANTICLOCKWISE (RIGHT TO LEFT)

VIII. MAGNETIC FIELD DUE TO A CURRENT TROUGH A CIRCULAR LOOP

 The magnetic field lines are in the form of concentric circles near the sides of the loop but
towards the centre of the loop, the magnetic field lines become almost parallel which indicates
that this part of the coil has a uniform magnetic field.
A current carrying circular loop behaves like a tiny bar magnet.
From the pattern of Field Lines following conclusions can be drawn:
i) The magnetic field lines near the coil are nearly circular and concentric. (the coil can
be thought of made of small line segments, hence the direction of the filed lines can be
found by Right- Hand Thumb Rule)
ii) The field lines are in the same direction in the space enclosed by the coil.
iii) Near the centre the field lines are nearly straight and parallel. Therefore, the Magnetic
Field at the centre of the coil can be taken to be uniform.
iv) The direction of the magnetic Field at the centre is perpendicular to the plane of the
coil.
v) Magnetic Field is maximum at its centre.

➢ DIRECTION OF MAGNETIC FIELD: CLOCK RULE

➢ MAGNITUDE OF MAGNETIC FIELD

B  NI/ r
Here:
B – Magnetic Field
I – Current flowing through coil
N- number of turns in coil.
r- radius of the coil

NOTE: SI UNIT OF MAGNETIC FILED IS TESLA(T)

Therefore, more the current more is the magnetic field, more the number of turns in coil more
is the magnetic field and is inversely proportional to the radius of the coil.

IX. MAGNETIC FIELD DUE TO A CURRENT CARRYING SOLENOID.

An insulated copper wire wound on a cylindrical tube such that its length is greater than its
diameter is called a solenoid.
It can be considered to be a cylindrical coil with ‘n’ no of turns.
 i) A current carrying solenoid behaves like a bar magnet with fixed polarities at its ends.
ii) The magnetic flied lines inside the solenoid are nearly straight and parallel to its axis
i.e the magnetic field inside a solenoid is uniform.

➢ DIRECTION OF MAGNETIC FIELD.

The end of the solenoid at which the current flows anticlockwise behave as a North Pole
while the end at which the direction of current is clockwise behaves like South Pole.

➢ MAGNITUDE OF MAGNETIC FIELD (B)

B  nI
Here, I – current flowing in the coil
n = N /l i.e no of turns per unit length on solenoid (Nis total no of turns in solenoid
and l is length)

➢ ELECTROMAGNET
An electromagnet is a temporary strong magnet and is just a solenoid with its
winding on a soft iron core.
The strength of the electromagnet depends upon:
a) The number of turns per unit length
b) The current through the solenoid.

Uses:
• In electrical devices such as electric bell, electric fan, telegraph, electric
train, electric motor etc
• For lifting and transporting large masses of iron.
• In medical practice for removing pieces of iron from wounds.

X. FORCE ON A CURRENT CARRYING CONDUCTOR IN A MAGNETIC FIELD.

When a current carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field, it experiences a force, except
when it is placed parallel to the magnetic field.
The force actin on a current carrying conductor in a magnetic field is due to interaction
between:
a) Magnetic field due to current carrying conductor.
b) external magnetic field in which conductor is placed.
c) When a straight current carrying wire is placed between horse shoe magnet, the
following observations are made:
• There is a displacement bin the current carrying wire/rod
• On reversing the battery connections, the displacement of conductor also
reverses to other direction.
• On changing the direction of external magnetic field, the direction of
displacement (force) also changes.
• The force is maximum when wire is perpendicular to field and zero if wire is
parallel to the field.

➢ MAGNITIUDE OF FORCE
FI
FB
FL
Or
F = BIL sin 
Here,
B= external magnetic field
 I – Current in conductor
L – length of conductor
- angle between conductor and magnetic field.

If, = 90, then F= BIL (maximum)

If, = 0, then F= zero (minimum)

➢ DIRECTION OF FORCE:

FLEMING’S LEFT HAND RULE (MOTOR RULE)

Stretch the thumb, the fore finger and the middle finger of the left hand so that they are mutually
perpendicular to each other. If the fore finger points towards in the direction of Magnetic Field,
the middle finger in the direction of current, then the thumb points in the direction of force on
the conductor. (Or motion of conductor).

➢ DEVICES THAT USE THE ABOVE PRINCIPLE:

Electric motors, generators, loudspeakers, microphones and measuring instruments.

XI. DIRECT AND ALTERNATING CURRENT:

The rate of flow of charge across any cross section of the conductor is an electric current. In
order to have current in a conductor, both its ends need to be connected to a source of electrical
energy. Depending on the nature of the source of electrical energy used, current in a conductor
is of two types. They are

i. Direct current

ii. Alternating current

.

DC stands for Direct current and AC stands for Alternating current.

AC CURRENT
The AC current also known as Alternating Current changes its polarity and magnitude
periodically and continuously with respect to time. The Ac current can be produced with an
alternator that produces the alternating current.

DC CURRENT
The DC current also known as Direct Current is a unidirectional flow of current or electric
charge unlike AC it does not change the magnitude and polarity with time. The DC current has
constant magnitude and direction and as the direction and magnitude not changes so the
frequency of the DC current is zero

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AC & DC

ADVANTAGE OF AC OVER DC
➢ Alternating current is easy to produce and also it is cheaper compared to DC.
➢ AC can be transmitted to longer distances than DC which makes it more efficient
and comfortable for usage.
➢ During the transmission of AC from one place to another place, AC power loss is
less, as compared to DC

DOMESTIC ELECTRIC CIRCUITS

➢ Electric Power is generated by Electric Power Stations.
➢ They supply electricity to our homes through electric poles or underground
cables.
➢ Electric wires reach a home through Main Supply.
➢ They are of 2 types
1 Live Wire. It is of red colour insulation. It is called Live wire (or
positive)
2 Neutral Wire it is of black colour insulation. It is called neutral wire
(or negative).
➢ Potential difference between Live and Neutral wire is 220 Volts.
➢ These wires pass into Electricity Meter through a Main Fuse or an M C B.
➢ From main switch they are connected to line wires in the house.
➢ These wires supply electricity to different circuits.

This is how a domestic electric circuit i.e., a circuit in our homes looks like-

➢ Normally Two Circuits are used

1 15 Amperes Current Ratings Circuit
They are used for appliances having higher load like electric iron, geyser etc.
2 5 Amperes Current Ratings Circuit
They are used for appliances having less load like TV, Tubelight etc.

➢ Different sockets in a switch

There are normally 3 sockets in a switch. These are for connecting 3 wires:
1. Live Wire. It is of red colour
2. Neutral Wire. It is of green colour
3. Earth wire. It is of green colour

➢ What is Earth Wire? What it is used for?

Earth Wire is a third type of wire in an electric circuit. It doesn't carry any
electricity.
 One end of Earth wire is buried in the Earth and other end is connected to the
metal casing of electrical appliances by using 3 pin plugs.
If by chance, live wire touches any metal case parts of appliances, then current
passes directly to Earth. Hence Earth Wire is used to prevent people from getting
electric shocks and acts as a safety device.
This wire has green insulation.

➢ What is Overloading?
If too many electrical appliances are connected to the same socket, they draw
extremely large current from circuit. Due to this device may get overheated and
fire may start this is called overloading.

➢ What is Short Circuit?

When live wire and neutral wire comes in direct contact with each other, they
cause short circuit.
This happens if insulation of both wires gets torn. Current flows through wires
without much resistance. Due to high current passing through wire, wire may
get heated up and may catch fire.
➢ How to prevent short circuit?
It is prevented by using fuse.

➢ What is fuse? Why it is used?

• A fuse is a device which is used in a circuit to prevent damage to the
appliances and the circuit due to overloading.

• An electrical fuse is a safety device that operates to provide protection against the
overflow of current in an electrical circuit.
• An important component of an electrical fuse is a metal wire or strip that melts when
excess current flows through it.
• It helps to protect the device by stopping or interrupting the current.
• Nowadays MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker) is used in place of fuse.
• If current becomes too large MCV puts offers switch breaking off power supply. This
can be switched on again and reused.

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