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Magnetic Effects of Electric Current

The big picture

This table sums up the chapter.

Magnetic Effects of Electric Current at a glance
IdeaThe key line
Field of a wireRings round the wire. Thumb on the current, fingers on the field.
Field linesN to S outside a magnet. Closer means stronger. Never cross.
CoilMore turns or more current gives a stronger field.
Force on a wireLeft-hand rule: field, current, push.
House circuitFuse on the live wire. Appliances in parallel. Earth for faults.
AC and DCAC reverses twice a cycle. Indian supply: 50 Hz.
MotorCurrent in, motion out. A split ring reverses the current every half turn.
Field of a loopOne way through the loop. In its plane, the other way outside. Right hand: fingers with the current, thumb with the field.
GeneratorMotion in, current out. A moving magnet near a coil induces a current.
Wire coloursYour book: red, black, green. A cord may use brown, blue. Often two circuits: 5 A, 15 A.

A compass turns near a current. A current makes a field. Coil magnets and motors use that fact. Generators use the reverse.

Read Chapter 12, Magnetic Effects of Electric Current, in your book. Try its exercises. Our Environment is next.

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This track

  1. 0 Start here
  2. 1 The invisible shape around a wire
  3. 2 Drawing the shape
  4. 3 A magnet you can switch
  5. 4 The field pushes back
  6. 5 Your house has a circuit
  7. 6 Two kinds of current
  8. 7 Motors
  9. 8 The field of a loop
  10. 9 Induction and the generator
  11. 10 Colours and ratings of house wires
  12. 11 Checkpoint: fields, coils and wires
  13. 12 The big picture
  14. 13 Track quiz

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