12 Electricity and Circuits

W
e use electricity for many are also used in alarm clocks,
purposes to make our tasks wristwatches, transistor radios, cameras
easier. For example, we use and many other devices. Have you ever
electricity to operate pumps that lift carefully looked at an electric cell? You
water from wells or from ground level might have noticed that it has a small
to the roof top tank. What are other metal cap on one side and a metal disc
purposes for which you use electricity? on the other side (Fig. 12.1). Did you
List some of them in your notebook. notice a positive (+) sign and a negative
Does your list include the use of (–) sign marked on the electric cell? The
electricity for lighting? Electricity
makes it possible to light our homes,
roads, offices, markets and factories
even after sunset. This helps us to
continue working at night. A power station
provides us with electricity. However, the Fig.12.1 An Electric Cell
supply of electricity may fail or it may not
metal cap is the positive terminal of the
be available at some places. In such
electric cell. The metal disc is the
situations, a torch is sometimes used for
negative terminal. All electric cells have
providing light. A torch has a bulb that
two terminals; a positive terminal and a
lights up when it is switched on. Where
negative terminal.
does the torch get electricity from?
An electric cell produces electricity
12.1. ELECTRIC CELL from the chemicals stored inside it.
Electricity to the bulb in a torch is When the chemicals in the electric cell
provided by the electric cell. Electric cells are used up, the electric cell stops

Caution You might have seen the danger sign shown here displayed on poles,
electric substations and many other places. It is to warn people that
electricity can be dangerous if not handled properly. Carelessness in
handling electricity and electric devices can cause severe injuries and
sometimes even death. Hence, you should never attempt to experiment
with the electric wires and sockets. Also remember that the electricity
generated by portable generators is equally dangerous. Use only electric
cells for all activities related to electricity.

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 Filament
Caution: Never join the two terminals
of the electric cell without connecting
them through a switch and a device
like a bulb. If you do so, the chemicals
in the electric cell get used up very fast
and the cell stops working.

Terminals way that they do not touch each other.

(a) (b) The electric bulbs used at home also
have a similar design.
Fig.12.2 (a) Torch bulb and (b) its inside view
Thus, both the electric cell and the
producing electricity. The electric cell bulb have two terminals each. Why do
then has to be replaced with a new one. they have these two terminals?
A torch bulb has an outer case of
12.2. A B ULB C ONNECTED TO AN
glass that is fixed on a metallic base [Fig.
ELECTRIC CELL
12. 2 (a)]. What is inside the glass case
of the bulb? Let us try to make an electric bulb light
up using an electric cell. How do we do
Activity 1 that?
Take a torch and look inside its bulb.
Activity 2
You can also take out the bulb with the
help of your teacher. What do you Take four lengths of electric wire with
notice? Do you find a thin wire fixed in differently coloured plastic coverings.
the middle of the glass bulb [Fig. 12.2 Remove a little of the plastic covering
(b)]? Now switch the torch on and from each length of wire at the ends.
observe which part of the bulb is This would expose the metal wires at
glowing. the ends of each length. Fix the exposed
The thin wire that gives off light is parts of the wires to the cell and the
called the filament of the bulb. The bulb as shown in Fig 12.3 and Fig. 12.4.
filament is fixed to two thicker wires,
which also provide support to it, as
shown in Fig. 12.2 (b). One of these thick
wires is connected to the metal case at
the base of the bulb [Fig. 12.2 (b)]. The
other thick wire is connected to the
metal tip at the centre of the base. The
base of the bulb and the metal tip of the
base are the two terminals of the bulb.
These two terminals are fixed in such a Fig.12.3 Electric cell with two wires attached to it

ELECTRICITY AND CIRCUITS 117

 Write 'Yes' or 'No' for each arrangement
in your notebook.
Now, carefully look at the
arrangements in which the bulb glows.
Compare these with those in which the
bulb does not glow. Can you find the
reason for the difference?
Keep the tip of your pencil on the
wire near one terminal of the electric cell
Fig.12.4 Bulb connected to two wires
for the arrangment in Fig. 12.5 (a). Move
You can stick the wires to the bulb the pencil along the wire all the way to
with the tape used by electricians. Use the bulb. Now, from the other terminal
rubber bands or tape to fix the wires to of the bulb, move along the other wire
the cell. connected to the cell. Repeat this
Now, connect the wires fixed to the exercise for all the other arrangements
bulb with those attached to the cell in in Fig. 12.5. Did the bulb glow for the
six different ways as has been shown in arrangements in which you could not
Fig. 12.5 (a) to (f). For each arrangement, move the pencil from one terminal to
find out whether the bulb glows or not. the other?

(a) (b) (c)

(d) (e) (f)

Fig.12.5 Different arrangements of electric cell and bulb

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12.3 AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT An electric bulb may fuse due to
In Activity 2 you connected one terminal many reasons. One reason for a bulb to
of the electric cell to the other terminal fuse is a break in its filament. A break
through wires passing to and from the in the filament of an electric bulb means
electric bulb. Note that in the a break in the path of the current
arrangements shown in Fig. 12. 5 (a) between the terminals of the electric cell.
and (f), the two terminals of the electric Therefore, a fused bulb does not light
cell were connected to two terminals of up as no current passes through its
the bulb. Such an arrangement is an filament.
example of an electric circuit. The electric Can you now explain why the bulb
circuit provides a complete path for did not glow when you tried to do so
electricity to pass (current to flow) with the arrangements shown in Fig.
between the two terminals of the electric 12.5 (b), (c), (d) and (e)?
cell. The bulb glows only when current Now we know how to make a bulb
flows through the circuit. light up using an electric cell. Would
In an electric circuit, the direction of you like to make a torch for yourself?
current is taken to be from the positive Activity 3
to the negative terminal of the electric
Take a torch bulb and a piece of wire.
cell as shown in Fig.12.6. When the
Remove the plastic covering at the two
ends of the wire as you did before. Wrap
one end of a wire around the base of an
electric bulb as shown in Fig. 12.7. Fix
the other end of the wire to the negative
terminal of an electric cell with a rubber
band. Now, bring the tip of the base of
the bulb that is, its other terminal, in
contact with the positive terminal of the
Fig.12.6 Direction of current in an electric
circuit

terminals of the bulb are connected with

that of the electric cell by wires, the
current passes through the filament of
the bulb. This makes the bulb glow.
Sometimes an electric bulb does not
glow even if it is connected to the cell.
This may happen if the bulb has fused.
Look at a fused bulb carefully. Is the
filament inside it intact? Fig. 12.7 A home made torch

ELECTRICITY AND CIRCUITS 119

 a drawing pin into the ring at one
end of the safety pin and fix it on the
Paheli has another thermo Col sheet as shown in Fig. 12.8.
arrangement of the cell Make sure that the safety pin can be
and the bulb. Will the rotated freely. Now, fix the other drawing
torch bulb glow in pin on the thermo Col sheet in a way
the following that the free end of the safety pin can
arrangement? touch it. The safety pin fixed in this way
would be your switch in this activity.

cell. Does the bulb glow? Now move the

bulb away from the terminal of the
electric cell. Does the bulb remain
lighted? Is this not similar to what you
do when you switch your torch on or
off?
12.4 ELECTRIC SWITCH Fig 12.9 An electric circuit with a switch

We had an arrangement for switching Now, make a circuit by connecting

on or off our home made torch by an electric cell and a bulb with this
moving the base of the bulb away from switch as shown in Fig.12.9. Rotate the
the tip of the cell. This was a simple safety pin so that its free end touches
switch, but, not very easy to use. We the other drawing pin. What do you
can make another simple and easier observe? Now, move the safety pin away.
switch to use in our circuit. Does the bulb continue to glow?
The safety pin covered the gap
Activity 4
between the drawing pins when
You can make a switch using two you made it touch two of them. In
drawing pins, a safety pin (or a paper this position the switch is said to be 'on'
clip), two wires and a small sheet of (Fig. 12.10). Since the material of the
thermo Col or a wooden board. Insert safety pin allows the current to pass

Fig. 12.8 A simple switch Fig. 12.10 A switch in ‘on’ position

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through it, the circuit was complete. this position, the switch is said to be
Hence, the bulb glows. 'off' as in Fig. 12.9.
On the other hand, the bulb did not A switch is a simple device that either
glow when the safety pin was not in breaks the circuit or completes it. The
touch with the other drawing pin. The switches used in lighting of electric
circuit was not complete as there was a bulbs and other devices in homes work
gap between the two drawing pins. In on the same principle although their
designs are more complex.
Boojho has drawn the inside
of the torch as in Fig. 12.11. 12.5 E LECTRIC C ONDUCTORS AND

When we close the switch, INSULATORS

the circuit is completed and In all our activities we have used metal
the bulb glows. Can you wires to make a circuit. Suppose we use
draw a red line on the figure a cotton thread instead of a metal wire
indicating the complete circuit? to make a circuit. Do you think that the
bulb will light up in such a circuit?
What materials can be used in electric
circuits so that the current can pass
through them? Let us find out.
Reflector
Activity 5
Disconnect the switch from the electric
circuit you used for Activity 4. This would
leave you with two free ends of wires as
shown in Fig. 12.12 (a). Bring the free
ends of the two wires close, to let them
touch each other. Does the bulb light up?
You can now use this arrangement to test
whether any given material allows current
to pass through it or not.

(a) (b)
Fig. 12.12 (a) A conduction tester (b) Testing
whether the bulb glows when the tester is in
Fig. 12.11 Inside view of a torch contact with a key

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 Collect samples of different types of Insulators do not allow electric current
materials such as coins, cork, rubber, to pass through them. With the help of
glass, keys, pins, plastic scale, wooden Table 12.1, name the materials that are
block, pencil lead, aluminium foil, conductors of electricity and also those
candle, sewing needle, thermo Col, paper which are insulators.
and pencil lead. One by one bring the Conductors ______, ______, _________
free ends of the wires of your tester in Insulator _________, _______, ________
contact with two ends of the samples What do you conclude? Which
you have collected [Fig. 12.12 (b)]. Make materials are conductors and which are
sure that the two wires do not touch insulators? Recall the objects that we
each other while you are doing so. Does grouped as those having lustre, in
the bulb glow in each case? Chapter 4. Are they the conductors? It
Make a table in your notebook now seems easy to understand why
similar to Table.12.1, and record your copper, aluminum and other metals are
observations. used for making wires.
Table 12.1 Conductors and insulators Let us recall Activity 4 in which we
made an electric circuit with a switch
Object used in Material Bulb
place of the it is glows? (Fig.12.9). When the switch was in the
switch made of (Yes/No) open position, were the two drawing pins
Key Metal Yes not connected with each other through
the thermo Col sheet? But, thermo Col,
Eraser Rubber No
you may have found is an insulator.
Scale Plastic What about the air between the gap?
Matchstick Wood
Since the bulb does not glow when there
is only air in the gap between the drawing
Glass bangle Glass pins in your switch, it means that air is
Iron nail Metal also an insulator.
Conductors and insulators are
What do you find? The bulb does not
equally important for us. Switches,
glow when the free ends of the wires are
electrical plugs and sockets are made of
in contact with some of the materials you
conductors. On the other hand, rubber
have tested. This means that these
and plastics are used for covering
materials do not allow the electric current
electrical wires, plug tops, switches and
to pass through them. On the other hand,
other parts of electrical appliances,
some materials allow electric current to
which people might touch.
pass through them, which is indicated
by the glowing bulb. Materials which Caution: Your body is a conductor of
allow electric current to pass through electricity. Therefore, be careful when
them are conductors of electricity. you handle an electrical appliance.

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 „ Electric cell is a source of electricity.
„ An electric cell has two terminals; one is called positive (+ ve) while the
other is negative (– ve).
„ An electric bulb has a filament that is connected to its terminals.
„ An electric bulb glows when electric current passes through it.
„ In a closed electric circuit, the electric current passes from one terminal of
the electric cell to the other terminal.
„ Switch is a simple device that is used to either break the electric circuit or
to complete it.
„ Materials that allow electric current to pass through them are called
conductors.
„ Materials that do not allow electric current to pass through them are called
insulators.

Bulb Filament
Conductors Insulator
Electric cell Switch
Electric circuit Ter minal

1. Fill in the blanks :

(a) A device that is used to break an electric circuit is called _______________.
(b) An electric cell has _______________ terminals.
2. Mark 'True' or 'False' for following statements:
(a) Electric current can flow through metals.
(b) Instead of metal wires, a jute string can be
used to make a circuit.
(c) Electric current can pass through a sheet
of thermo Col.
3. Explain why the bulb would not glow in the
arrangement shown in Fig. 12.13.

Fig. 12.13

ELECTRICITY AND CIRCUITS 123

 4. Complete the drawing shown in Fig 12.14 to
indicate where the free ends of the two wires
should be joined to make the bulb glow.
5. What is the purpose of using an electric switch?
Name some electrical gadgets that have switches
built into them.
6. Would the bulb glow after completing the circuit
shown in Fig. 12.14 if instead of safety pin we
use an eraser? Fig. 12.14
7. Would the bulb glow in the circuit shown in Fig. 12.15?

Fig. 12.15
8. Using the "conduction tester" on an object it was found that the bulb begins to
glow. Is that object a conductor or an insulator? Explain.
9. Why should an electrician use rubber gloves while repairing an electric switch
at your home? Explain.
10. The handles of the tools like screwdrivers and pliers used by electricians for
repair work usually have plastic or rubber covers on them. Can you explain
why?

SOME SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

1. Imagine there were no electric supply for a month. How would that affect your
day to day activities and others in your family? Present your imagination in
the form of a story or a play. If possible stage the play written by you or your
friends in school.
2. For your friends, you may set up a game "How steady is your hand?". You will
need a cell, an electric bulb, a metal key, two iron nails ( about 5 cm in length),
about one and a half metre long thick metal wire (with its plastic insulation
scraped off ) and few pieces of connecting wires. Fix two nails nearly one metre
apart on a wooden board so that these can be used as a hook. Fix the wire
between the nails after inserting it through the loop of the key. Connect one
end of this wire to a bulb and a cell. Connect the other terminal of the cell to
the key with a wire. Ask your friend to move the loop along the straight wire
without touching it. Glowing of the bulb would indicate that the loop of the key
has touched the wire.
3. Read and find out about Alessandro Volta who invented the electric cell. You
may also find out about Thomas Alva Edison who invented the electric bulb.

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