ABU DHABI INDIAN SCHOOL, BRANCH-1, AL WATHBA
GRADE- 7 SUBJECT- SCIENCE
ELECTRIC CURRENT AND ITS EFFECTS
1. Electric circuit
The continuous conducting path of electric current is called an electric circuit.
2. Circuit diagram
A circuit diagram is a pictorial method of describing an electric circuit using symbols of the
components of a circuit.
3. Battery
A battery is defined as a combination of two or more dry cells.
4. Open circuit
When the switch is turned OFF, there is a break in the circuit and the electric current cannot
flow through the circuit, then the circuit is said to be an open circuit.
5. Closed circuit
When the switch is turned ON, the circuit gets rejoined and the electric current can flow through
the circuit, then the circuit is said to be a closed circuit.
6. Heating element
A coiled wire with very high resistance and melting point is called heating element. Example:
Filament of a bulb.
7. Electric fuse
An electric fuse is a device with low melting point. It is used to protect an electric appliance. It
melts and break the circuit when excess current flows through it.
8. Miniature circuit breaker
A miniature circuit breaker or MCB is a switch used instead of fuse. MCB turns OFF automatically
when a circuit is overloaded and it can be turned ON once again when the problem in the circuit
is rectified.
9. Solenoid
Solenoid is a general term used for a coil of wire that acts like a magnet when a flow of
electricity passes through it.
They can be found in cars, industrial machinery, air conditioning systems, agricultural systems,
medical equipment, locking mechanisms and even in simple household electronics like electric
door bells etc.
10. Electromagnet
An electromagnet is a solenoid wound around an iron core.
11. Electrical resistance(R)
Electrical resistance of a conductor is the measure of hindrance to the flow of electric current.
Resistance is measured in ohms( ).
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It is a force that makes electricity to flow through the wire or a conductor. It is measured in
volts (V).
13. Current
The rate of flow of electrical charges in a circuit is known as current. It is measured in
Amperes (A).
14. Relationship between R, I and V
I=V/R
Current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the voltage for a particular value
of resistance.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
1. Draw the symbols of electronic components of a circuit.
Ans.
2. Differentiate between series connection and parallel connection of electric
circuits.
SERIES CONNECTION PARALLEL CONNECTION
The same amount of current Different amounts of current flow
flows through all the components through all the components of the
of the circuit. circuit.
The components of a circuit are The components of a circuit are
arranged in line. arranged in parallel to each other.
Eg: Christmas lights Eg: The headlights of a car
3. Explain the working of an incandescent electric bulb.
Ans.
● An incandescent bulb works on the principle of incandescence, a general term meaning
light produced by heat (heating effect of electricity).
● In an incandescent bulb, an electric current is passed through a thin tungsten filament,
heating it until it glows and produces light.
● A glass enclosure around the filament prevents oxygen in the air from reaching the hot filament.
● As tungsten is highly reactive at high temperatures, the bulb is also filled with inert
gases like argon and helium to prevent explosion.
Note: A lot of electricity is being wasted to heat the tungsten filament. Hence, incandescent
light bulbs are being replaced by CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs) and LEDs (Light
Emitting Diodes) which are energy efficient.
4. Explain the heating effect of electric current.
Ans
● When an electric current is passed through a conductor, due to resistance, the
conductor becomes hot and produces heat.
● This effect of electric current is called the heating effect of current.
● The higher the resistance of a conductor, the more heat energy is produced.
● The heating effect of current can be seen in various electrical heating appliances such as
incandescent electric bulb, oven, electric iron, room heaters, geysers, toasters, etc.
● These appliances consist of a heating element.
● When an electric current flows through it, it glows red hot and converts the electrical
energy passing through it into heat,
5. Explain the magnetic effect of electric current.
Ans.
● When current is passed through a wire, a magnetic field is produced around it.
● This is called the magnetic effect of electric current.
● This was discovered by a scientist, Hans Christian Oersted.
● He observed that the needle of a compass deflects (change in direction) when a current-
carrying wire is placed near it.
6. Explain the working of an electric bell.
Ans.
● When the switch is turned ON, current starts flowing, the electromagnet starts
attracting the iron strip.
● This results in hammer hitting the bell and then producing sound and then breaking of
the circuit.
● When the circuit breaks, current stops flowing and the strip goes back to the original
position as the electromagnet loses its magnetism.
● Again, if the switch is turned ON, the process repeats.
7. List down the applications of electromagnets.
Ans.
● Electromagnets are used in electric bells, toys, telecommunication equipment etc.
● They are used by doctors to remove any swallowed magnetic materials from the body.
● They are used in medical equipment like MRIs that are used to diagnose diseases.
● They are used in maglev trains.
8. ‘Heating element in a toaster is nichrome not copper.’ Justify the statement.
Ans. Pure metals rust easily at high temperature, therefore, alloys are used in toasters as heating
element. Also nichrome produces more heat than copper due to high resistance.
