ELECTRICITY

CLASS-VII
PHYSICS
ELECTRIC CURRENT & ITS EFFECTS
1. Electric Current
Electric current is the electrical energy flowing in an electric circuit. It flows from the positive
terminal to the negative terminal.
2. Electric Circuit
An electric circuit is a continuous conducting path for electric current. It consists of a source of
current (electric cell) and other circuit elements such as lamp, conducting wires, switch etc.
3. Battery
Combination of two or more cells which are connected in series such that positive terminal of one
cell is joined to the negative terminal of another, is called a battery.
Battery Symbol
4. Switch
A device used to open or close a circuit is called an electric switch. It is also called a key.
5. Differentiate between an open and closed circuit.

CLOSED CIRCUIT OPEN CIRCUIT
Connections are complete. Connections are not complete.
Switch is in ‘ON’ position. Switch is in ‘OFF’ position.
Current flows in this circuit. Current does not flow in this circuit.
6. Electric Circuit Diagram
A drawing of an electrical circuit with standard symbols is called a circuit diagram.
7. Potential Difference
• Potential difference is the difference in energy between two points in a circuit that enables
the current to flow.
• The positive terminal of a battery is at a higher potential than the negative terminal.
8. Heating effect of electric current.
• When an electric current passes through an electric conductor/wire, it gets heated up. This
is called the heating effect of electric current.
• Electric irons, room heaters, electric ovens, water heaters, etc., use the heating effect of
current to work.
• The greater the resistance offered by the conductor/wire, the greater would be the heat
generated.
9. Does every conductor heat up when an electric current is passed through it? What does the
amount of heat depend on? Name the conductor normally used in heating appliances?
• Yes, every conductor heats up when electric current is passed through it. Heating is caused
by the resistance offered by the conductor/wire to the current flowing through it.
• The amount of heat produced in a wire depends on its material, length and thickness.
• Nichrome is used in heating appliances as it offers high resistance to the flow of current.
10. Electric fuse
• An electric fuse is a safety device to prevent damage to electrical appliances by preventing

a large amount of current from flowing into the circuit.
• A fuse wire is always made up of an alloy with low melting point.
11. Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB)
• MCB is a switch that automatically stops the current in a circuit if the current in it exceeds
the safe limit.
• It is commonly used instead of or in addition to fuses.
• MCBs work on magnetic effect of electric current.
12. Magnetic Effect of electric current
• Where an electric current passes through a wire, it behaves like a magnet. This is the
magnetic effect of the electric current.
• Hans Christian Oersted was the first person to notice the magnetic effect of the electric
current.
• This effect is utilised in making electromagnets, electric bells, telephone instruments, etc.
13. Solenoid
• A solenoid is a cylindrical coil of wire.

• When a current flows through it, the solenoid behaves like a bar magnet, with opposite
poles at the ends.
14. How can you increase magnetic strength of a solenoid?

The strength of a solenoid can be increased by:
• Increasing the number of turns in the solenoid.

• Increasing the current in the solenoid.
• Winding the solenoid around a magnetic material.
15. What are electromagnets? Give some uses of electromagnets.
• An electromagnet is a coil of insulated wire wound around a piece of a magnetic substance,

such as soft iron, which acts as a magnet only as long as the current is flowing in the wire.
• The magnetic material around which the coil is wound is called the core.
• The core increases the magnetic effect of the solenoid several times as we saw in the
previous activity.
• Electromagnets are used in electric bells and buzzers and in making electric motors used in
fans, air-conditioners, washing machines, etc.
• Very strong electromagnets are used in cranes for lifting heavy iron objects.
16. Explain the working of an electric bell with the help of a diagram.
Working of The Electric Bell:
• It consists of an electromagnet, an armature, a contact adjusting screw, a gong and a

hammer.
• The armature consists of a soft iron rod mounted on a spring.
• One end of the iron rod presses against the top of the contact adjusting screw.
• When the switch is pressed on, current flows in the electromagnet.
• It then attracts the iron rod towards itself, causing the hammer to strike the gong.
• At the same time, the armature loses contact with the screw and the current is switched off.
• This causes the electromagnet to lose its magnetism and the armature springs back to its
original position to close the circuit once again.
• Current flows again and the cycle repeats itself till the current is switched off.

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CLASS-VII

5. Differentiate between an open and closed circuit.

8. Heating effect of electric current.

10. Electric fuse

• An electric fuse is a safety device to prevent damage to electrical appliances by preventing

11. Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB)

12. Magnetic Effect of electric current

• A solenoid is a cylindrical coil of wire.

14. How can you increase magnetic strength of a solenoid?

• Increasing the number of turns in the solenoid.

15. What are electromagnets? Give some uses of electromagnets.

• An electromagnet is a coil of insulated wire wound around a piece of a magnetic substance,

Working of The Electric Bell:

• It consists of an electromagnet, an armature, a contact adjusting screw, a gong and a

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