ICSE Selina Solutions for Class 10

Physics
Chapter 9 - Electrical Power and Household Circuit

EXERCISE- 9(A)

1. At what voltage and frequency is the electric power generated at the power
generating station?
Ans: At power generating stations electric power is generated at 11 KV voltage and
50Hz frequency.

2. (a)At what voltage is the electric power from the generating station
transmitted? Give reasons to your answer.
(b)What is the nature of current transmitted from the power station?
Ans: (a) Electric power generated from the station is transmitted at 11 kV because
voltage higher than because of insulation difficulties, while the voltage lower than this
involves high current and loss of energy in form of heat.
(b)Current transmitted from the power station is alternating current.

3. In the transmission of power the voltage of power generated at the generating

station is stepped up from 11kV to 132kV before it is transmitted. Why?
Ans: Voltage is stepped up from 11kV to 132kV to minimize the loss of heat energy
in the live wires.

4. Explain with the aid of a simple diagram, the transmission of electric power
from the generating station to your house.

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 1

At the power generating station, 11 kV electric power is generated. The alternating
voltage is supplied to the grid sub-station and stepped up to 132 kV using a step-up
transformer. It is then transmitted to the main substation where the voltage is stepped
down to 33 kV using a step-down transformer and then transmitted to the intermediate
substation. At intermediate sub-station, voltage is stepped down to 11 kV using a step-
down transformer and it is transmitted to the city substation, where the voltage is again
stepped down to 220 V and it is supplied to our houses.

5. At what voltage and frequency is the a.c. supplied to our houses?

Ans: The a.c. is supplied to our houses at voltage of 220 V and frequency of 50Hz.

6. Name the device used to (a) Increase the voltage at the generating station (b)
Decrease the voltage at the sub-station for its supply.
Ans:(a) Step-up transformer
(b) Step-down transformer

7. (a) Name the three connecting wires used in a household circuit.

(b) Which two wires mentioned in part (a) are at the same potential?
(c) In which of the wires stated in part (a) the switch is connected?
Ans:(a) Three connecting wires used in a household circuit are:
(i) Live (or phase) wire (L),
(ii) Neutral wire (N), and
(iii) Earth wire (E).

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 2

(b) Neutral and earth wires are at the same potential.
(c) Switches are connected to live wire.

8. What is the role fuse? Write down its current rating.

Ans: Before the electric line is connected to meter box in a house, a fuse of rating (≈
50 A) is connected in the live wire before the meter. This fuse is called the pole fuse.
Its current rating is ≈ 50 A

9. State the function of each of the following in a house circuiting:

(a) kWh meter,
(b) main fuse, and
(c) main switch.
Ans: (a) Cable from fuse wire is connected to a kWh meter and from this meter;
connections are made to the distribution box through a main fuse and a main switch.
(b) The main fuse is connected with live wire and in case of high value of current it
will burnt and cut the connections to save appliances.
(c) The main switch is connected in the live and neutral wires. The main switch used
to break the connection of the live wire and neutral wires from the main supply.

10. In what unit does the electric meter in a house measure the electrical energy
consumed? What is its value in S.I. unit?
Ans: The electric meter in a house measures electrical energy consumed in kWh. It's
S.I. unit is 1 kwh which is equal to 3.6 × 106 J.

11. Where is the main fuse connected in a house circuit?

Ans: The main fuse in our house circuit is connected in live wire before the main
switch.

12. State one advantage of using the main switch in house wiring.
Ans: Main switch is double pole switch with iron covering.

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 3

Major advantage of using it is, break the connection of both the live wire and the
neutral wire at the same time.
It protects electrical appliances from accidental damage due to electrical faults.

13. Draw a circuit diagram to explain the ring system of house wiring. State two
advantages of it.
Ans:

Advantages of ring system over tree system

(i) In a ring system wiring is cheaper than a tree system.
(ii) In a ring system sockets and plugs of the same size are used while in a tree system
sockets and plugs are of different sizes.
(iii) In ring systems, each appliance has a separate fuse due to which if there is any
fault or fuse of one appliance burns it does not affect other appliances; while in a tree
system when the fuse in one distribution line blows, it will disconnects all the
appliances connected to that distribution circuit or line.

14. Draw a labelled diagram with necessary switch, regulator etc. to connect a
bulb/lamp, a plug socket and a fan with the mains. In what arrangement are
these appliances connected to the mains: series or parallel?

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 4

Ans:

So, appliances are connected in a parallel arrangement with mains.

15. How should the several electric lamps be connected with the main so that the
switching on or off in a room has no effect on other lamps?
Ans: All the electrical appliances in a house\buildings should be connected in parallel
with mains and each with a separate switch and a separate fuse connected in the live
wire so that the switching on or off in a room will not affect other lamps in the same
building.

16. Fig. shows three bulbs A, B and C each of rating 100 W, 220 V connected to
the mains of 220 V. Answer the following:

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 5

(a) How is the bulb A connected with the mains? At what voltage does it glow?
(b) How are the bulbs B and C connected with the mains? At what bulb A
connected with the mains?
(c) How is the glow of bulbs A and C affected if bulb B gets fused?
(d) How is the glow of bulbs B and C affected if bulb A gets fused?
Ans: (a) Bulb A is connected in a parallel with the mains.
It will glow when voltage applied across the bulb is 220 V.
(b) Bulbs B and C are connected in series with mains. Because of this series
connection with the mains, the voltage at which they glow will be divided by two from
the main's supply voltage. Thus, bulb B will glow at 110V.
(c) If bulb B will get fused, bulb C which is connected in series with will not glow.
This will not affect the glow of bulb A, because it is connected parallel with the mains.
(d) If bulb A gets fused, the glow of bulb B and bulb C are not affected.

17. Two sets A and B each of four bulbs are glowing in two separate rooms.
When one of the bulbs in set A is fused, the other three bulbs also cease to glow.
But in set B, when one bulb fuses, the other bulbs continue to glow.
(i) Explain the difference in the two sets,
(ii) Which set of arrangements is preferred in the housing circuit and why?
[Hint: in set A, the bulbs are in series; while in set B, the bulbs are in parallel]
Ans: In a set A, bulbs are connected in series. So, when the fuse of one bulb blows
off, the circuit gets broken, and current will not flow through the other bulbs also.
In a set B, the bulbs are connected in parallel. So, each bulb gets connected to its
voltage rating (= 220 V) and even when the fuse of one bulb blows off, others remain
unaffected and they will continue to glow.

MULTIPLE CHOICE TYPE

1. The main fuse is connected in:

(a) Live wire

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 6

(b) Neutral wire
(c) Both the live and earth wires
(d) Both earth and the neutral wire.
Ans: Main fuse is connected in live wire thus that if the current exceeds its rating, the
fuse will melt and break the circuit, so it prevents the flow of excessive current into
the circuit.
Correct option (a), the main fuse is connected in live wire.

2. The electrical appliances in a house are connected in:

(a) Series
(b) Parallel
(c) Either in series or parallel
(d) Both in series and parallel
Ans: On connecting electrical appliances in parallel, each appliance works
independently without affecting whether the other appliances are switched on or off.
Correct options (b), Electrical appliances in a house are connected in parallel.

3. The electric meter in a house records:

(a) Charge
(b) Current
(c) Energy b
(d) Power
Ans: Electric meter in a house measure the amount of electrical energy consumed in
our house.
Correct option (c) Energy

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 7

EXERCISE- 9(B)

1. What is a fuse? Name the material of the fuse. State one characteristic of
material used for the fuse.
Ans: Electric fuse is a safety device, which is used to limit the amount of current in an
electric circuit. The use of fuse is safeguards the circuit and appliances connected in
that circuit from being damaged. It is made of alloy of lead and tin because it has low
melting point and high value of resistivity.

2. Name the device used to protect the electric circuits from overloading and
short circuits. On what effect of current does it work?
Ans: 'Fuse' is used to protect electric circuits from short circuiting and overloading.
Electric fuse works on the principle of heating effect of current.

3. Complete the following sentences:

(a) A fuse is a short piece of wire of high _________ and of material low
_________.
(b) A fuse wire is made of an alloy of ________ and ________. If the current in a
circuit exceeds the current rating of the fuse wire it _________.
(c)A fuse is connected in ________ with the ________ wire.
(d) Higher the current rating,_______ is the fuse wire.
(e) Live wire is also called __________ wire.
Ans: (a) A fuse is a short piece of wire of high resistance and of material low melting
point.
(b) A fuse wire is made of an alloy of lead and tin. If the current in a circuit exceeds
the current rating of the fuse wire it melts.
(c) A fuse is connected in series with the live wire.
(d) Higher the current rating, thicker is the fuse wire.
(e) Live wire is also called phase wire.

4. Why is the fuse wire fitted in a porcelain casing?

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 8

Ans: Because it is an insulator of electricity.

5. How is a fuse put in an electric circuit? State the purpose of using a fuse in a
circuit.
Ans: The fuse wire is fitted between the two metallic terminals T1 and T2 in a
porcelain holder (since porcelain is an insulator of electricity). This porcelain holder
fits into a porcelain socket which has two metallic terminals to which the live wires of
the circuit are connected. The figure shown below is the fuse arrangement.

Fuse is connected with each electrical appliance to safeguard it from the flow of
excessive amounts of current through it.

6. Describe with the aid of a diagram some form of a fuse, which is used in the
electric lighting circuit of a house. Give two reasons why a fuse must not be
replaced by an ordinary copper wire.
Ans:

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 9

This is the most common fuse arrangement in which fuse wire is stretched between the
two metallic terminals T1 and T2 in a porcelain holder. This porcelain holder is fitted
into a porcelain socket which has two metallic terminals to each of which the live wire
of the circuit is connected.
A fuse must not be replaced with a copper wire because copper has very low
resistivity and high value of melting point.

7. A fuse is always connected to the live wire of the circuit. Explain the reason.
Ans: The fuse wire is always connected with the live wire of the circuit because if the
fuse is put with the neutral wire, then due to excessive flow of current the fuse burns
and current will stop flowing in the circuit, but the appliance remains connected to the
live wire. Now if we touch the appliance, we may get a shock as it will come in
contact with the live wire through the appliance.

8. How does the (i) thickness and (ii) length of a fuse wire depend on its current
rating
Ans: Current rating of the fuse wire:
(i) It is directly proportional to the thickness of wire. Thicker the fuse wire, the current
rating of the fuse wire will be higher.
(ii) It does not depend on its length.

9. Two fuse wires are rated 5 A and 20 A. Which of the two is (i) thicker, (ii)
longer?
Ans: length of wire is directly proportional to resistance meaning longer the wire
greater will be the resistance smaller the current.
20 A fuse wire will be thicker so that its resistance will be low and 5A will be longer.

10. Explain the meaning of the statement 'the current rating of a fuse is 5 A'.
Ans: It means the fuse wire connected to live wire has a current carrying capacity of 5
A.

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 10

11. (a) 'A fuse is rated 8 A'. Can it be used with an electrical appliance of rating 5
kW, 200 V?
(b) Name two safety devices which are connected to the live wire of a household
electric circuit.
Ans: (a) Safe limit of current which can flow through the electrical appliance will,
I = P/V = 5000/200 = 25 A;
It is greater than 8 A. So, a fuse of 8A cannot be used.
(b) Switch and fuse.

12. An electric kettle is rated 3 kW, 250 V. Give reason whether this kettle can be
used in a circuit which contains a fuse of current rating 13 A.
Ans: The safe limit of current for kettle will,
I= 3000 W/ 250V
=12 A
So, this kettle can be used in a circuit which contains a 13 A fuse.

13. (a) What is the purpose of a switch in a circuit?

(b) Why is the switch put in the live wire?
(c) What precaution do you take while handling a switch?
Ans: A switch is a device which has on-off the current in a circuit (or in an appliance).
It should always be connected with the live wire so that the appliance could be
connected to the high potential point through the live wire. In this position the circuit
is complete because neutral wire provides the return path for the current. When the
appliance does not work i.e., in the off mode of the switch, the path of current is
incomplete and no current will reach the appliance.

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 11

On the other hand, if the switch is connected with the neutral wire, then in 'off'
position, no current will pass through the bulb. But the appliance remains connected to
the high potential terminal through live wire.

So, if the switch is connected in the neutral wire, it can be quite deceptive and even
dangerous for them.
Precaution while handling a switch the switch should not be touched with wet hands.

14. (a) A switch is not touched with wet hands while putting it on or off. Give a
reason for your answer.

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 12

(b) Name the wire to which a switch is connected.
Ans: We should not touch a switch with wet hands. If the water reaches the live wire,
it forms a conducting contact between the hand and the live wire of the switch so the
current passes to the hand and the person may get a fatal electric shock.

15. It is dangerous to connect the switch in the neutral wire. Explain your answer.
Ans: In case of excessive flow of current, it is dangerous to connect the switch with
the neutral wire.
Even if the fuse blows off due to excessive flow of current and the current in the
circuit would no longer be conducted, the appliance will still remain connected to the
live wire of a very high potential.
Now in this situation, if a person touches the metallic body of that appliance then
he/she may suffer a fatal electric shock.
That's why it is highly dangerous to connect the switch with the neutral wire.

16. Draw a diagram of a dual control switch when the appliance is switched 'ON'.
Ans:

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 13

17. Draw a circuit diagram using the dual control switches to light a staircase
electric light and explain its working.
Ans: Assume a switch S1 be fitted at the bottom and a switch S2 at the top of the
staircase. Fig. (a) shows the position of the bulb.

Now the bulb can be switched on independently by either switch S1 or the switch S2. If
the switch S1 is on, the connection 'ab' is changed to 'bc', which completes the circuit
and the bulb will glow [Fig. (b)].

In the same way, on operating the switch S2, the connection 'bc' changes to 'ba', which
again completes the circuit [Fig. (c)].

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 14

In the same manner, if the bulb is in one position as shown in Fig. (b) or (c), one can
switch off the bulb either from the switch S1 or the switch S2.

18. What purpose is served by the terminals of a three way pin plug? Draw a
diagram and name the pins.

All electrical appliances are provided with a cable having a plug at one end to connect
the appliance to the electric supply.
Ans: In a three way pin plug, the top pin is for earthing (E), the live pin (L) is on the
left and the neutral pin (N) is on the right.

19. The diagram in fig. shows a three pin plug. Label the three pins.

(a) Why is the top pin thicker and longer than the other two?
(b) Why are the pins splitted at the ends?
Ans: The three pins in the plug are:-

E mean the earth pin,

L mean live wire, and

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 15

N means neutral wire.
(a) The earth pin is made long so that the earth connection is made first. This ensures
the safety of the user because if the appliance is defective, the fuse will blow off. The
earth pin is thicker so that even by mistake it cannot be inserted into the hole for the
live or neutral connection of the socket.
(b) The pins are splitted at the end to provide spring action so that they fit in the socket
holes tightly.

20. Draw a labelled diagram of a three pin socket.

Ans: E: for earth pin

N: for neutral wire pin
L: for a live wire pin.

21. The diagram in Fig. shows a three-pin socket marked as 1, 2 and 3.

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 16

(a) Identify and write live (L), neutral (N) and earth (E) against the correct
number.
(b) To which part of the appliance is terminal 1 connected?
(c) To which wire joined to 2 or 3, is the fuse connected and why?
Ans: (a) 1 – Earth, 2 – Neutral, 3 – Live
(b)Terminal 1 is connected to the outer metallic case of the appliance.
(c) The fuse is connected to live wire joined to 3 so that in case of excessive flow of
current the fuse melts first and breaks down the circuit to protect appliances.

22. What do you mean by the term local earthing? Explain how it is done.
Ans: Local earthing is made near the meter box. In earthing a 2 - 3 meter deep hole is
dug into the ground then a copper rod placed inside a hollow insulating pipe, is put in
the hole now a thick copper plate of dimensions 50 cm × 50cm is welded to the lower
end of the copper rod and it is buried in ground. The plate is covered by a mixture of
charcoal and salt for a good earth connection.
To keep the ground damp, water flows through the pipe from time to time. It forms a
conducting layer between the plate and the ground. The upper end of the copper rod is
connected to the earth connection at the meter box.

23. To which wire is the metallic case of an electric appliance connected? Give the
reason?
Ans: If the live wire of the faulty appliance comes into direct contact with its metallic
case due to any reason then the appliance gains the high potential of live wire. This
may result in electric shock if any person touches the body of the appliance. But if the
appliance is earthed now if the live wire comes into contact with the metallic case,
high current flows through the case to the earth. The fuse connected to the appliance
will also fused and the appliance gets disconnected.

24. (a) The earthing of an electric appliance is useful only if the fuse is in the live
wire. Given the reason.
(b) Name the part of the appliance which is earthed.

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 17

Ans: (a) Fuse should be connected with live wire only if the fuse is in the neutral wire,
then although the fuse burns due to the flow of heavy current, but the appliance
remains at the supply voltage then touching the appliance current flows through the
appliance to the person touching it.
(b) Outer case (Metallic) of the appliance must be earthed.

25. For earthing an electrical appliance, one has to remove the paint from the
metal body of the appliance where the electrical contact is made. Explain the
reason.
Ans: The paint on the metal body of the appliance provides an insulating layer. For
earth connection therefore, the paint must be removed from the body part where
connection is to be made.

26. What is the colour code for the insulation on (a) live, (b) neutral and (c) earth
wire?
Ans: According to new international convention
(a) Live wire is brown in colour.
(b) Neutral is light blue and
(c) Earth wire is yellow or green in colour.

27. Name the colour code of the wire which is connected to (i) metallic body of an
appliance, (ii) switch for the appliance.
Ans: Colour code of the wire which is connected to
(i) The metallic body of an appliance is connected to the earthing wire of green colour.
(ii) The switch of the appliance is connected to the live wire of red colour.

28. How does the colour code of wires in a cable help in house wiring?
Ans: The colour coding of wires helps us to connect the switch, fuse, sockets etc.
through proper wire in house wiring.

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 18

29. A power circuit uses a cable using three different wires.
(a) Name the three wires of the cable.
(b) To which of the two wires should the heating element of an electric geyser be
connected?
(c) To which wire should the metal case of the geyser be connected?
(d) To which wire should the switch and fuse be connected?
Ans: (a) The three wires are: Live wire, Earth wire and Neutral wire.
(b) The heating element of the geyser should be connected to live wire and neutral
wire.
(c) The metal case of the geyser should be connected to earth wire.
(d) The switch and fuse must be connected to live wire.

30. State two circumstances when one may get an electric shock from an
electrical gadget. What preventive measures must be provided with the gadget to
avoid it?
Ans: One may get an electric shock from an electrical gadget in the following two
cases:
(i) If the fuse is put with the neutral wire instead of live wire & due to fault, if an
excessive amount of current flows in the circuit, the fuse burns, current will stop
flowing in the circuit but the appliance remains connected to the high potential point
of the supply through the live wire. In this situation, now if a person touches the faulty
appliance, he may get electric shock because the person will come in contact with the
live wire through the appliance.
Preventive measure: The fuse should always be connected with live wire.
(ii) When the live wire of a faulty appliance comes in direct contact with its metallic
case due to break of insulation after constant use (or otherwise), the appliance acquires
the high potential of the live wire. A person touching it will get a shock because
current flows through his body to earth.
Preventive measure: Proper 'earthing' of the electric appliance should be done.

31. Why is it necessary to have an earth wire installed in a power circuit, but not
in a lighting circuit?

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 19

Ans: Power circuits carry high power and costly devices. If there is any unwanted
power signal (noise) in the wire it can damage the device. To reduce this effect earth is
necessary.
Lighting circuits carry low power (current).So, we can ignore earth terminals.

32. Give two characteristics of a high tension wire.

Ans: A high tension wire has a low value of resistance and large surface area.

33. Which of the cables, one rated 5 A and the other 15 A will be of thicker wire?
Give a reason for your answer.
Ans: To carry larger current, the resistance of the wire should be low, so its area of
cross section should be large. So15 A current rated wire will be thicker.

34. The diagram in Fig. shows three lamps and three switches 1, 2 and 3.
(a) Name the switch/switches to be closed so as to light all the three lamps.
(b) How are the lamps connected: in series or in parallel?

Ans: a) Switches 2 and 3.

(b) The lamps are connected in series.

35. Figure below shows a dual control switch circuit used to light a bulb.

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 20

a. Complete the circuit so that the bulb is switched on.
b. Mark the supply terminal with L and N to indicate live neutral wires.
Ans:
(a)

(b)

A is live

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 21

36. Fig. Below shows two bulbs with switches and fuse connected to mains
through a socket.
(a) Label each component.
(b) Name and state the colour of insulation of each wire 1, 2 and 3.
(c) How are the two bulbs joined: in series or in parallel?

Ans:
(a)

(b)

Wire no Wire name Colour (Old convention) Colour (Old convention)

1 Neutral wire Black Light blue
2 Earth wire Green Green or yellow

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 22

 3 Live wire Red Brown

(c) The bulbs are joined in parallel.

MULTIPLE CHOICE TYPE

1. The rating of a fuse connected in the lighting circuit is:

(a) 15 A
(b) 5 A
(c) 10 A
(d) Zero
Ans: Correct option is (b), 5A
Electric wiring for lighting circuits uses a thin fuse wire of low value of current rating
(=5 A) because the live wire has a current carrying capacity of 5 A.

2. A switch must be connected in:

(a) Live wire
(b) Neutral wire
(c) Earth wire
(d) Either earth or neutral wire
Ans: Correct option is (a), live wire.
A switch should be connected with live wire, so that when it is in 'off' position, the
circuit is incomplete and no current will flow to the appliance through the live wire.

Class X Physics www.vedantu.com 23