Electric current is the flow of electric charge, usually electrons. It can produce heating and magnetic effects. When electric current flows through a conductor, it causes the conductor to heat up due to resistance. This heating effect is used in appliances like electric heaters, toasters, and electric bulbs. Electric current also produces a magnetic field around the conductor. Electromagnets are devices that use this principle - when current flows through a coil, it creates a magnetic field that can attract or repel other magnetic materials. Common examples that use these principles are electric bells and fuses.

1. CHAPTER -14
Electric Current and its Effects

2. Introduction to charge:-
● Electric charge is described as the basic physical properties of matter which allows it to
experience a special kind of force when kept under the influence of electromagnetic
field.
● There are two types of charges → positive and negative.
● Like charges repel each other and unlike charges attract each other
● The SI unit for the electric charge is Coulomb and is equal to around 6.242×1018
e. The
value of charge of an electron is −1.602×10-19
C.

3. Symbols of Electric components:-

4. Electric current- Flow of electrons in circuit:-
● The flow of electric charges or electrons is called an electric current.
● In electric circuits, current exists if the circuit is complete or closed.
● Mathematically, if Q is the amount of electric charge and t is the time taken then,
electric current, I =
The electric lamp glows only if there is a flow of electrons through it

5. Heating Effect of Electric Current:-
A) Conductors and insulators:-
● Substances or materials which offer comparatively less opposition to electric current
through them are called as conductors. Eg: silver, gold, copper, steel, sea water, etc.
● Substances which offer larger opposition to electric current through them are called as
insulators. Eg: rubber, glass, oil, diamond, dry wood, etc.

6. B) Heating effects of electric current:-
● A current carrying wire gets hot whenever electric passes through it. This is the heating
effect of electric current.
● The amount of heat produced in the wire depends on the material, thickness and length
of the conductor.
● If a large amount of electric current passes through the wire, the wire may become so
hot that it may melt and break.
● Heating effects of electricity are applied for many household appliances such as electric
heaters, toasters, water heaters.
● They are also used in bulbs and used as safety devices(fuses).
Common appliances that use heating effect of electric current

7. Electric bulb and electric fuse:-
● Coils of wire that utilise the heating effects of electric current are called as elements.
These coils can be found in an electric room heater or electric iron box or any other
electric appliances.
● Two important appliances based on the heating effects of electric current which are
widely used are the electric bulb and electric fuse.
● The filament of an electric bulb becomes so hot when an electric current passes
through, that it starts glowing.
● When wires are made of a material that melts on the passage of electric current are
called as a fuse. Electrical fuses are used as a safety device that breaks a circuit in times
of overloading. They prevent the cause of fire and damage to electrical circuits.

8. Magnetic effects of electric current:-
● When electric current flows through a current carrying conductor, it produces a
magnetic field around it. This can be seen with the help of a magnetic needle which
shows deflection. The more the current, the higher the deflection.
● If the direction of current in the circuit is reversed, the direction of deflection of the
magnetic needle is also reversed.
The magnetic needle experiences deflection only if there is
an electric current flowing through the wire

9. Lightning and magnetism:-
● During thunderstorms, air currents move upwards and water droplets move
downwards. This causes separation of charges between clouds and between clouds and
earth.
● When the magnitude of charges increases, air (normally a bad conductor) starts
conducting and allows the flow of electricity. This is called as lightning, as this flow of
charge is accompanied by bright streaks of light and sound.
● Lightning also makes naturally occurring magnets called as lodestones.
Lodestones

10. Electromagnets:-
● An electromagnet is an artificial magnet which produces a magnetic field around a
conductor due to the passage of electric current through it.
● This magnetic field disappears when there is no current flowing through the conductor.
● There are differences between electromagnets and permanent magnets.
Electromagnets Permanent magnets
● Electromagnets have their own magnetic
field as long as current is flowing
through them. Once the circuit is broken,
they lose their magnetism.
● Permanent magnets maintain their
magnetism for long periods of time

11. Electric bell
● An electric bell consists of an electromagnet. The switch we press is used to make the
circuit complete.
● The working of the bell is illustrated with the following image
● When the switch (K) is pressed, current flows through the circuit
● The electromagnet (E) is powered and generates a magnetic field
that attracts the iron strip towards it
● The striker strikes the gong or bell (B).
● When the striking arm (A) strikes the gong, the contact at (T) is
broken and current stops flowing through the circuit
● This causes the electromagnet to lose its magnetic field
● The connected spring arm returns the striker to its original rest
position
● The contact is restored and current flows through the circuit
(provided the main switch is still pressed)
● The process is repeated again until the switch (K) is made open.
Circuit diagram of a electric bell