Ch 13 Magnetic Effects of Electric Current

Magnet
Magnets are used

 in refrigerators
 in radio and stereo speakers
 in audio and video cassette players
 in children’s toys and
 on hard discs and floppies of computers

Properties of Magnet

 A free suspended magnet always points towards the north and south direction.
 The pole of a magnet which points toward north direction is called north pole or north-
seeking.
 The pole of a magnet which points toward south direction is called south pole or
south seeking.
 Like poles of magnets repel each other while unlike poles of magnets attract
each other.

Oersted ‘s Experiment

Oersted’s experiment: According to this experiment “A current carrying wire creates a

magnetic field around it. The direction of magnetic field depends on the direction of
current in conductor.”
On passing the current through the copper wire XY in the circuit, the compass needle which is
placed near the conductor gets deflected. If we reverse the direction of current, the compass
needle deflect in reverse direction. If we stop the flow of current, the needle comes at rest.
Hence, it can be concluded that electricity and magnetism are linked to each other. It shows
that whenever the current will flow through the conductor, then a magnetic field will develop.
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Magnetic field:

The area around a magnet in which other magnet feels force of attraction or repulsion
is called Magnetic field.

The area around the magnet where its properties are felt is know as magnetic field

Unit : Tesla

Direction of magnetic field can be found by using Right hand Thumb Rule.

The strength of the magnetic field at a point is define as the force experienced by a unit
magnetic pole when placed at that point .

Magnetic Field Lines

Direction of field line:

Outside the magnet, the direction of magnetic field line is taken from North pole to South
Pole. Inside the magnet, the direction of magnetic field line is taken from South pole to North
pole.
 The closeness of field lines shows the relative strength of magnetic field, i.e. closer lines
show stronger magnetic field and vice – versa. Crowded field lines near the poles of magnet
show more strength.

Properties of magnetic field lines

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a) Magnetic lines are closed and continuous curves directed from the north pole
towards the south pole outside the magnet and from south to north inside the
magnet.
b) They do not cross each other.
c) They are more crowded near the poles where magnetic field is strong and are
far apart near the middle of the magnet and far from the magnet where the
magnetic field is week.
d) Tangent at any point on the curve shows the direction of the magnet field.
e) Field lines are parallel and equidistance these represent a uniform magnetic
field.
Magnetic field lines due to current a current carrying 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.

Let a current carrying conductor be suspended vertically and the electric current is flowing from
south to north. In this case, the direction of magnetic field will be anticlockwise. If the current is
flowing from north to south, the direction of magnetic field will be clockwise.
The direction of magnetic field, in relation to direction of electric current through a
straight conductor can be depicted by using the
Right Hand Thumb Rule. It is also known as Maxwell’s Corkscrew Rule.

Magnetic Field in a Straight Current Carrying conductor

  In the above figures, note that there are current carrying conductors in opposite
directions. In both cases, the current carrying conductor is intercepted by a
cardboard placed at right angles to the current carrying conductor.
 There are some iron fillings sprinkled on the conductor.
 When current flows through the conductor, the iron filing arrange themselves along the
magnetic field.
 We can see that the magnetic field in both cases is in opposite directions as is the
current.
 The magnetic field produced by a current-carrying straight wire depends inversely on
the distance from it and directly on the current passing through it.
 From this we see that the current carrying conductor produces a magnetic field around
it. The direction of this magnetic field is given by Right Hand Thumb Rule.

Right Hand Thumb Rule

The Maxwell right hand thumb rule indicates the direction of the magnetic field in a direction of
current. If the thumb of the right-hand points along the direction of current, then the remaining
curled fingers of the same hand gives the direction of the magnetic field due to the current.
Magnetic field lines due to a current through a circular loop

In case of a circular current carrying conductor, the magnetic field is produced in the same
manner as it is in case of a straight current carrying conductor
In case of a circular current carrying conductor, the magnetic field lines would be in the form of
iron concentric circles around every part of the Films periphery of the conductor at the centre, the
arcs of big circles would appear as a straight line.

1. The magnetic field lines near the coil are nearly circular and concentric.

2. The magnetic field at the center of the coil can be taken to be uniform.

3. Magnetic field is maximum at its center.

4. The direction of the magnetic field is perpendicular to the plane of the coil.

5. As we move towards the centre of the coil ,the strength of the magnetic field
increases. Magnetic field strength is maximum at its centre.

The direction of the magnetic field can be identified using Right Hand Thumb’s Rule.
Let us assume that the current is moving in anti-clockwise direction in the loop. In
that case, the magnetic field would be in clockwise direction, at the top of the loop.
Moreover, it would be in an anti-clockwise direction at the bottom of the loop.

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Clock Face Rule:

A current carrying loop works like a disc magnet. The polarity of this magnet can be easily
understood with the help of Clock Face Rule. If the current is flowing in anti – clockwise
direction, then the face of the loop shows north pole. On the other hand, if the current is
flowing in clockwise direction, then the face of the loop shows south pole.
Magnetic field and number of turns of coil:

Magnitude of magnetic field gets summed up with increase in the number of turns of coil. If
there are ‘n’ turns of coil, magnitude of magnetic field will be ‘n’ times of magnetic field in case
of a single turn of coil.

The strength of the magnetic field at the centre of the loop(coil) depends on:
(i) The radius of the coil: The strength of the magnetic field is inversely proportional to the radius
of the coil. If the radius increases, the magnetic strength at the centre decreases

ii) The number of turns in the coil :As the number of turns in the coil increase, the magnetic
strength at the centre increases, because the current in each circular turn is having the same
direction, thus, the field due to each turn adds up.
(iii) The strength of the current flowing in the coil: As the strength of the current increases,
the strength of three magnetic fields also increases.

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Magnetic Field due to Current in a Solenoid

 A coil with many circular close turns of insulated copper wire wrapped closely in
the shape of a cylinder is called solenoid.

 Solenoid behaves as a bar magnet.

 One end of such a solenoid behaves like the north pole and the other as a
south pole.
 Therefore, magnetic field due to current in the solenoid is similar to a bar
magnet. The fields always emerge out of the North pole and always merge into
the South pole

 The field inside the solenoid is uniform.

 The strong magnetic field inside the solenoid is so strong that it can be used to
magnetize a piece of soft iron when it is placed
 inside the coil. The magnet formed like this is called a Electromagnet.
 Factors on which magnetic field depends
1. Current flowing through the solenoid
As the amount of current flowing through the solenoid is increases, magnetic
field created is stronger. It is directly proportional to the current flowing.
2. Number of turns per unit length
More the number of turns, stronger will be magnetic field.
3. Nature of the core material placed inside the solenoid
Soft iron placed inside the current carrying solenoid increases the strength of the
magnetic field produced.
4. Radius of the solenoid
Magnetic field strength is inversely proportional to the radius of the solenoid. If radius is small,
strength will be stronger.

Electromagnet
An electromagnet is a temporary strong magnet and is a just a solenoid with its winding on a
soft iron core.
Strength of the electromagnet depends on
1. Number of turns per unit length.
2. Current flowing through the solenoid.

Uses of electromagnet
1. Used to separate magnetic materials from non magnetic materials.
2. In medical practice for removing iron particles from wound.
3. Used in cranes to lift heavy iron loads.
4. Used in many electrical and electronic devices such as electric bell,
speakers, telephones, loudspeakers etc
 Electromagnets and Permanent magnet

Permanent Magnet Electromagnet

1. Permanent magnets cannot de 1. They are temporarily magnets
demagnetized easily. which can be demagnetized by stopping
current through it.
2. They are usually made of 2. They are usually made of soft
hard materials. materials.
3. Strength of permanent 3. Strength of electromagnet
magnet cannot be changed can be changed.
4. The poles of a Permanent 4. The poles of electro-magnet
magnet cannot be changed can be changed.

Force on a current carrying conductor in a magnetic field

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A small aluminum rod is suspended horizontally from a stand using two connecting wires.
Place a strong horseshoe magnet in such a way that the rod lies between the two poles with
the magnetic field directed upwards. For this, put the north pole of the magnet vertically below
and south pole vertically above the aluminum rod. Connect the aluminum rod in series with a
battery, a key and a rheostat. Pass a current through the aluminum rod from one end to other
(B to A). The rod is displaced towards left. When the direction of current flowing through the
rod is reversed, the displacement of rod is towards right.
 Left Hand Thumb Rule

Whenever a current carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field, it experiences a force due
to the magnetic field. The middle finger points in the direction of the current. The thumb gives
the direction of force or motion acting on the conductor

Domestic Electric Circuit

Types of Wires
There are three types of wires used in domestic electric circuits:
o Earth Wire (green insulation, 0V not for working of appliance)
o Live Wire (red insulation, 220V)
o Neutral Wire(black insulation, 0V)
In domestic electric circuits, a parallel arrangement is preferred over others so as to maintain the
proper functioning of all the electrical appliances in use. Electricity is delivered to our homes at 220V
from the power station via an electric pole. A fuse of high rating connects the electric line to the
meter-box in a dwelling (company fuse). Fuse boxes for various circuits are stored in the main
switchboard as needed. They are connected to the house’s line wires through the main switch. In the
home, these cables carry two distinct current values:The appliances with greater power ratings, such
 as geysers and air conditioners, are linked to a 15A current line. Appliances with low power ratings,
such as tube lights and televisions, are linked to a 5A current line.

Distribution Board:
Power lines coming from the electricity meter are taken to the distribution board. It is from the
distribution board that the wires go to the different parts of the house through fuses in the board.

WHY IS SERIES ARRANGEMENT NOT USED FOR DOMESTIC CIRCUITS?

In domestic circuits, series arrangement is not used because of the following reasons:
 The total potential difference available (usually 220 volts) is divided between various appliances in
the circuit according to their resistances since the current flowing through all the appliances is the
same. Thus, each appliance will not get the required potential difference for it to operate
properly.
 if one of the appliances is out of order, e.g., if a bulb gets fused or if we switch off one of the
appliances all the appliances in the circuit will stop working, as the circuit gets broken.
 All the appliances will work simultaneously whether we want them to work or not, thereby
involving a lot of power wastage

SHORT-CIRCUITING:
when the live (positive) wire and the neutral (negative) wire come in direct contact with each other.

Reasons of short-circuiting

Damage to the insulation of the power-lines

A fault in an electric appliance due to which current does not pass through it.
Over loading.
Consequences of short-circuiting
On account of short-circuiting, resistance of the circuit decreases to a very small value and consequently,
the current becomes very large. This large current results in heating of live wires, which produces
sparking at the point of short-circuiting. This sparking sometimes causes fire.

Overloading: When the number of appliances connected to the circuit at the same time exceeds the
circuit wiring’s capacity, the circuit is said to be overloaded.

A fuse is a wire made of an alloy of lead (75%) and tin (25%), which melts at around 200ºC (low melting
point). Electric fuse can avoid incidents like electric shock, fire, damage to an electric appliance due to:
 Short-circuiting or
 Overloading (withdrawing current beyond a specified limit) in a circuit.
When a heavy current flows through the circuit, the fuse wire gets heated and melts. Consequently, the
circuit is broken and the current stops flowing in it.

 A fuse is always connected in live wire.

 It protects the appliance from getting damaged.
 A fuse of current capacity of 5 A is put in a line meant to supply power to lights (i.e., bulbs) and
fans whereas a fuse of 15 A current capacity is meant for a line which operates an electric heater
or a geyser, etc

Earthing: To avoid any shock to the user in case of leakage of current, the metal casing of the electric
appliance is earthed. Since the earth does not offer any resistance, the current flows to the earth through
the earth wire instead of flowing through the body of the person.