MAGNETIC EFFECTS OF ELECTRIC CURRENT
Magnet
A substance which has the property of attracting other substances like iron filings
and points in the north south direction when suspended freely is called a magnet.
Magnetic field
The space around a magnet in which the force of attraction and repulsion due to it
can be detected is called the magnetic field.
Magnetic field lines
The imaginary curved paths along which the north pole of the freely suspended
magnet /compass needle moves in a magnetic field are called magnetic field lines.
Magnetic field lines are used to represent a magnetic field.
Properties of magnetic field lines: -
1. Magnetic field lines are closed continuous curves
2. The magnetic field lines never intersect each other
• Because if they do so it means that at that point the compass needle would
point towards two directions which is not possible.
3. They are directed from North Pole to South Pole outside the magnet and from
south to North Pole inside the magnet.
4. A tangent drawn at any point on the magnetic field line shows the direction of
magnetic field at that point
5. The degree of closeness of the magnetic field lines shows the strength of the
magnetic field.
Why does a compass needle get deflected when brought near a bar magnet?
Compass needle get deflected when brought near a bar magnet because the bar
magnet exerts a force on the compass needle, which itself is a tiny pivoted magnet.
Types of Magnetic field: -
Magnetic field is a quantity that has both magnitude and direction. The direction
of the magnetic field is taken to be the direction in which a north pole of the
compass needle moves inside it.
Plotting magnetic field lines with
the help of a compass needle:-
Magnetic field pattern around a bar magnet
Oersted’s experiment to determine the magnetic field around a current
carrying conductor – using a compass needle.
• If current flows from north to south, the north of the needle deflects towards
east.
• If the current flows from south to north, the north of the needle deflects towards
west.
• If no current flows through the wire, then there will be no deflection.
Direction of deflection of the needle of the magnetic compass
Ampere’s swimming rule
Consider a man swimming along the direction of wire. If
the electric current enters his feet and leaves his head, then
the north pole of the needle of the magnetic compass will
be deflected towards his left hand.
It is also known as SNOW rule
If the electric current flows from South to North direction in a wire kept Over a
magnetic compass, then the north pole of the needle of a magnetic compass will be
deflected towards West
Magnetic field due to current carrying conductor
The direction of magnetic field
produced by the electric current
depends upon the direction of flow of
current.
If we reverse the direction of current,
then the direction of magnetic field
produced by the electric current get
changed.
The magnitude of the magnetic field
produced at a given point increases as
the current through the wire
increases.
The concentric circles representing
the magnetic field around a current-
carrying straight wire become larger
and larger as we move away from it.
The straight current carrying conductor produces a magnetic field around it in the
form of concentric circular field lines with the conductor at the centre.
Factors affecting strength of magnetic field around a current carrying straight
conductor.
Strength of magnetic field is directly proportional to the current passing through the
conductor and inversely proportional to the distance from the conductor.
B ∝ I
1
B ∝
𝑟
Where B is the magnetic field, I is the current and r is the distance from the
conductor.
Right hand thumb rule: -
Imagine holding a current-carrying conductor in
your right hand such that the thumb points in the
direction of current, then the direction of the curled
fingers represent the direction of magnetic field.
Right hand thumb rule is also known as
Maxwell’s corkscrew rule
If we consider ourselves driving a
corkscrew in the direction of the current,
then the direction of the corkscrew is the
direction of the magnetic field.
Magnetic field due to current carrying circular loop:
Factors affecting strength of magnetic field due to current carrying circular
loop
1. Directly proportional to the current passing through it.
B ∝ I
2. Inversely proportional to the radius of loop.
1
B ∝
𝑟
This shows that the strength of the magnetic field at the center of current carrying
circular wire is inversely proportional to its radius.
3. Number of turns n of the coil
B ∝ n
Solenoid: - A solenoid is a coil of many turns of an insulated copper wire closely
wound in the shape of a tight spring.
Magnetic field due to current in a solenoid The magnetic field due to current
carrying solenoid is similar to the magnetic field produced by a bar magnet. The
ends of the solenoid act as North Pole and South Pole. The field lines inside the
solenoid are in the form of straight parallel lines.
Clock face rule: -
If the current flows in a clockwise
direction when the coil is seen end-
on, then that end of the solenoid
acts as a South pole.
If the current flows in
anticlockwise direction when the
coil is seen end-on, then that end of
the solenoid acts as a North pole.
Factors affecting strength of magnetic field due to current in a solenoid
1. Magnetic field is directly proportional to the number of turns in the coil.
B ∝ n
2. It is directly proportional to the current passing through it.
B ∝ I
3. It depends on the nature of the core material used in the solenoid.
Electromagnet
A soft iron core inside a current carrying solenoid
acts like a magnet as long as current is passed
through it. Such a magnet is known as
electromagnet.
Factors affecting the strength of magnetic field
of an electromagnet.
1. The number of turns in the coil.
2. The current flowing in the coil.
3. The length of air gap between the poles.
A core of an electromagnet must be of soft iron since it loses all of its magnetism
when current in the coil is switched off.
If steel is used for making the core of an electromagnet, the steel does not lose all its
magnetism when the current is stopped and it becomes a permanent magnet. That is
why steel is not used for making electromagnets.
Uses of electromagnet
1. They are used in electrical devices such as electric bell, electric horn, telephone
receiver, electric relay, microphones, radio set, television, loudspeakers etc.
2. They are used for lifting and transporting large mass of iron. They are fitted on
cranes lifting heavy objects of scrap iron.
3. They are used in medical practices for removing pieces of iron from wound and
used in MRI.
Electromagnets Permanent magnets
1. Temporary magnet which acts like a 1. Permanent magnet is a natural
magnet as long as current passes magnet.
through it
2. Can be magnetized and 2. It cannot be demagnetized easily
demagnetized easily
3. Gives a strong magnetic field by 3. Magnetic field of a permanent
changing the current or changing magnet is weak.
the number of turns of the coil
4. The polarity of an electromagnet 4. The polarity of a permanent magnet
can be changed by changing the cannot be changed
direction of the current.
Force on a current carrying conductor in a magnetic field.
A current carrying conductor placed in
a magnetic field experiences a force due to
the interaction between
a. Magnetic field due to current carrying
conductor and
b. External magnetic field in which
conductor is placed.
Fleming’s Left Hand Rule
Stretch the thumb, fore finger and the middle
finger of your left hand such that they are
mutually perpendicular to each other. If the fore
finger represents the direction of magnetic field
and the middle finger represents the direction
of current, then the thumb represents the
direction of motion or the force on the
conductor.
Factors on which the force acting on the current carrying conductor depends.
1. The strength of the magnetic field. F ∝ B
2. The strength of the electric current. F ∝ I
3. The length of the conductor. F ∝ l
Electric motor
A motor is a rotating device which converts electrical energy into mechanical
energy. It has a shaft which rotates continuously when current is passed through it.
Principle of electric motor
A current-carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field experiences a force which
rotates it continuously.
Parts of electric motor
Armature coil: -
It consists of a single loop of insulated copper
wire in the form of a rectangle.
Split ring commutator: -
A device which reverses the direction of current
through a circuit is called a commutator (or split
ring)
The function of commutator rings is to reverse
the direction of current flowing through the coil every time the coil just passes the
vertical position.
Carbon brushes: -
The function of carbon brushes is to make contact with the rotating rings of the
commutator and through them to supply current to the coil.
Strong field magnet: -
This magnet provides a strong magnetic field.
Battery: -
It supplies current to the armature coil.
Uses of DC Motor: -
1. It is used in electric cars, rolling mills, electric cranes and electric lifts.
2. It is used in drilling machines, electric fans, hair dryers, record players, tape
recorder and blowers.
3. It is used in centrifugal machines like mixer grinder, and blenders,
refrigerators and washing machines etc.
The commercial motors use
i. an electromagnet in place of permanent magnet
ii. large number of turns of the conducting wire in the current carrying coil
iii. a soft iron core on which the coil is wound.
This enhances the power of the motor.
Electromagnetic induction
The phenomenon of producing of induced current in a closed circuit by changing the
magnetic field associated with it is known as electromagnetic induction. It is the
production of electricity from magnetism.
The induced current is highest when the direction of motion of the coil is at right
angles to the magnetic field.
Factors on which induced current depends: -
1. the number of turns in the coil
2. the strength of the magnet
3. the speed with which the magnet moves towards the coil or vice-versa
4. winding the coil on a soft iron core
Fleming’s Right Hand Rule
Stretch the thumb, fore finger and the middle finger of
your right hand such that they are mutually perpendicular
to each other. If the fore finger represents the direction
of magnetic field and the thumb represents the direction
of motion of the conductor, then the middle finger
represents the direction of induced current in the
conductor.
Different ways to induce current in a coil.
Motion of a magnet with respect to
a coil produces induced current
If a magnet is moved towards or away
from a coil of wire connected to a
galvanometer, the galvanometer needle
shows a deflection. This shows that
current is induced in the coil due to the
motion of the magnet.
Change in magnetic field produces induced
current
Take two coils of wires wound around a cylindrical paper roll. Connect
one coil to a battery and the other coil to a galvanometer. If current is passed
through the first coil, the galvanometer
needle shows a deflection in the
second coil. If the current is disconnected,
the needle moves in the opposite direction.
This shows that current is induced in the
coil 2(secondary coil) due to change
in magnetic field related to coil 1(primary
coil).
Electric generator
A generator is a machine which is used to generate electric current by converting
mechanical energy into electrical energy. There are two types of generators –
alternating current (AC) generator and direct current (DC) generator.
Principle of electric generator: -
When a coil of copper wire is moved in a strong magnetic field, a current is induced
in the coil (electromagnetic induction).
AC Generator DC Generator
Difference between Direct Current and Alternating Current
Direct current Alternating current
1. A current that always flows in one 1. A current that reverses its direction
direction only is called direct periodically is called alternating current.
current.
2. Cannot be transmitted over long 2. Can be transmitted over long distance without
distances without power loss. much power loss.
3. The polarity of DC is fixed 3. The polarity of AC is not fixed. It reverses its
direction every 1/100 second.
4. Sources of DC: Dry cell, car 4. Source of AC: Power house generators, car
battery and DC generator alternators and bicycle dynamos.
Most power stations in our country produce alternating current. AC changes
direction every 1/100 second (100 times in one second) and its frequency is 50 Hertz
(Hz).
Domestic electric circuits: -
Electric power to homes is supplied through the mains. It has two wires. One is a
live wire (positive wire) with red insulation and the other is a neutral wire (negative
wire) with black insulation. The potential difference between the two wires is 220V.
The earth wire with green insulation is connected to a metal plate kept in the ground.
Two separate circuits are used. One is of 15A (Power circuit) for appliances with
high power rating like geysers, air conditioners, electric stove, refrigerators etc. The
other is of 5A (Lighting circuit) for fans, bulbs, TV etc. The different appliances
are connected in parallel so that every appliance gets equal voltage and even if one
is switched off the others are not affected.
Earthing
The appliances that have metallic body (like electric iron, toaster, refrigerator, etc.)
are connected with green wire which provides a low resistance conducting path for
the current and keeps the body of appliance at the potential of the earth. This is called
earthing. One end of the copper wire is connected with the metal casing of the
electrical appliance and the other end of the copper wire is connected to the copper
plate which is buried deep inside the earth
Earthing is done to save ourselves from electric shocks.
Electric fuse
The device having a short length of thin wire which is made of alloy lead and tin is
called fuse wire or electric fuse. It has a very low melting point. It melts and breaks
the circuit if the current exceeds the safe value.
Fuse wire is connected in series in the circuit.
Overloading
When too many electrical appliances of high power rating (electric oven, air
conditioner, etc.) are switched on at the same time, a large current from the circuit
is drawn. This is called overloading of the circuit
Short circuiting: - When the live wire and neutral wire come into direct contact, a
large amount of current flows through the circuit due to very small resistance, this is
called short circuiting. The heat produced during short circuiting is so high that it
may cause fire.
