Effects of Electric Current
There are three effects of electric current. They are magnetic effect, heating effect, and chemical effect. When an electric current flows through a wire a magnetic field is generated around the wire and this can be determined by the deflection of a compass. The magnetic field has a direction along with a magnitude. If the electric current flows in a direction north to south the direction in which the magnetic compass will deflect is clockwise implying that the direction of the magnetic field is dependent on the direction of flow of the electric current. Conventionally it is taken that magnetic lines emerge from the north pole and merge at the south pole. Magnetic field lines from two magnets cannot cross each other. The magnitude of the magnetic field increases with the increase of electric current through the wire. The SI unit of the magnetic field is Tesla.
Electricity and magnetism are bound to each other, and it is proven that it produces a magnetic effect when the electric current passes through the copper wire.
Magnetic Field
The magnetic field is a quantity that has magnitude as well as direction.
A magnetic field's direction is usually taken as the direction in which a compass needle's north pole travels inside it.
The convention is for the field lines to emerge from the north pole and merge at the south pole.
No two-magnet bar field lines are found to cross one another. If this occurs, it implies that the compass needle will point to two directions at the point of intersection, which is not feasible.
With the increase of current through the wire, the magnitude of the magnetic field produced by an electric current at a given point increases.
Right-Hand Thumb Rule
The right-hand thumb rule, also known as Maxwell's corkscrew law, describes the direction of the magnetic field associated with a current-carrying conductor.
Right - hand thumb rule states that "Imagine holding current with a straight conductor in your right hand, so the thumb points in the current direction. Then curl your conductive fingers towards the magnetic field lines.
Fleming’s Left-Hand Rule
Fleming's left-hand rule says, "Stretch the left thumb, forefinger and middle finger to be perpendicular to each other. If the first finger points in the direction of the magnetic field and the second finger in the direction of the current, the thumb points in the direction of motion or the driver's force.”
The human body also produces a magnetic field, but it is minimal and about one-billionth of the magnetic field on earth.
The heart and brain are the two main organs in the human body that created the magnetic field.
The magnetic field within the human body forms the basis for obtaining images of various parts of the body.
The technique used to get the body part image is known as MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Electric Motor
An electric motor is a rotating system designed to transform electric power into mechanical power.
We have hundreds of appliances that use electric motors, such as fridges, mixers, fans, washing machines, computers, etc.
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Commercial and high-performance motors are used as−
1. An electromagnet instead of a permanent magnet.
2. A Large number of conductive wires turns in the coil bearing electrical current.
The soft iron core wound is known as an armature, with the coil wound and the coils wounded.
The armature has the main function to maximize engine power.
Fleming’s Right-Hand Rule
Fleming’s right-hand rule states that “Extend the right thumb, forefinger and middle finger in order to be perpendicular to each other.
If the forefinger indicates the magnetic field direction and the thumb indicates the conductor's motion direction, then the middle finger indicates the direction of the induced current.
Electric Generator
A generator of electricity is a device that converts mechanical energy into electric energy.
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Mechanical energy is used in an electric generator to rotate the conductor in a magnetic field, as a result, this electricity is produced.
FAQs on Magnetic Effects of Electric Current
1. What is the Definition of Magnetic Effect of Electric Current?
The term 'magnetic electrical current effect' implies that there is a magnetic field around it by an electrical current flowing into a wire
2. What is the Electric Current and Its Effect?
The temperature of wire increases as electric current passes through a conducting wire. This is called the electro current heating effect. Devices That Work on Electric Current Heating Effect: Incandescent bulb is an example of a device that works due to the heating effect of electric current.
3. What Are Two Effects of Electric Current?
Electric current has two effects; heating effect and magnetic effect. This happens because a magnetic field is generated around the wire as electric current passes through a conductive wire. The magnetic field causes the magnetic compass to deflection.
4. What Causes Current Electricity?
The flux of free electrons from one atom to another causes an electrical phenomenon. Current electricity characteristics go against those of static electricity. Wires consist of conductors like copper or aluminum.
5. Which rule helps to determine the direction of the magnetic force?
The right-hand rule determines the relation between the magnetic fields and the force they exert on the moving charges. The basis of the rule is that there are three axes in a three-dimensional space. The rule says that if the thumb, middle finger, and the forefinger of the right hand are kept at right angles to each other and the thumb points the direction of motion of a conductor relative to a magnetic field and the forefinger points the direction of the field then the middle finger will point towards the direction of the electromotive force. This rule was formulated by John Ambrose Fleming.
6. How do Fleming's right-hand and left-hand rules differ?
Fleming had formulated rules or better to say mnemonics to understand and determine the direction of the thrust or flow of current in an electromagnetic field easily.
· Left-hand rule is applicable for electric motors while the right-hand rule for electric generators.
· Left-hand rule is used to determine the direction of motion in an electric motor while the right-hand rule is to determine the direction in which induced current moves when the conductor moves in a magnetic field.
· In the Left hand, the thumb represents the direction of thrust of the conductor while the thumb in the right hand determines the direction of motion of the conductor.
7. Who discovered that a moving magnet can generate currents?
Michael Faraday a famous English Physicist first discovered that a moving magnet can generate electric current. This is what is referred to as electromagnetic induction which produces an electromotive force. This has been determined by the deflection of the galvanometer needle when a moving magnet is moved towards an electric coil.
Thus the way a moving charge can create a magnetic field, a moving magnet can also create an electric field or electric currents. He also mentioned that the magnitude of the electromotive force in a circuit that is induced by the moving magnet is directly proportional to the rate of change of magnetic flux across the circuit.
8. What is electric current and what are the types of electric current?
Electric current is the flow of charged particles like electrons or ions in a stream through a conductor. The SI unit is ampere. Basically, there are two types of electric current. They are- Alternating Current and Direct Current. The basic difference between them is that while in AC current the direction of flow of electrons changes back and forth at regular intervals, in DC current the direction of flow of current is consistent in one direction only.
The current that most electric power generates and that we mainly use in our homes is alternating current. Direct current is mainly used in computers, LEDs, solar cells, and electric vehicles.
9. What is the importance of magnetism generated by an electric field?
Magnetic field or effect generated by an electric current is the basis of numerous appliances that we use in our daily life. Few such applications are mentioned below:
Electric generators are devices where mechanical energy is transformed to electrical energy through the use of electromagnets.
Inductor is a coil or reactor which stores energy in a magnetic field that is generated by the flow of electric current.
Transformers which is used to transfer electrical energy from one circuit to multiple circuits
Induction cooker the AC electric current passing through the copper wire coil results in the formation of a magnetic field which induces a current in the vessel and produces heat for cooking
Graphics tablet is a computer input device that works on the principle of electromagnetic induction.
Induction motor in which the current needed to produce a torque in the rotor of the motor is obtained by electromagnetic induction of the magnetic field of the winding of the stationary part of the rotor.
Induction welding uses electromagnetic induction to generate heat in the workpiece.
Mechanically powered flashlights work on the principle of electromagnetism.