DPS RUBYPARK KOLKATA

STUDY MATERIAL (2020-2021)

SUB - PHYSICS
CLASS 7
Topic: Electricity

❖ ATOM: It is the smallest unit of a matter. The atom of a matter has same chemical
properties as the matter. All atoms are composed by three constituent particles called
Electron (e), Proton (p) and Neutron (n), where electron carries negative charge, proton
carries positive charge and neutron does not carry any charge i.e. neutron is neutral.
Proton(s) and Neutron(s) are present in centre of the atom which is called Nucleus of the
atom and each of them are known as nucleons of the atom. In an atom, the number of
protons present in the centre is equal to the number of electrons present in the orbit (Orbit:
Path of the electrons in which electrons revolve around the nucleus) and for that reason an
atom is electrically neutral.

❖ Charge (Q/q): Like mass, charge is general property of matter. When the number of
proton(s) and number of electron(s) present in the atom becomes unequal then atom
becomes electrically charged. Charge is denoted by either letter Q or letter q. There are two
types charges –
(a) Positive Charge or Positive Ion(s): When the number of protons present in an
atom become more than the number of electrons or complete absence of electron(s) is
called Positive Charge or Positive Ion(s). It is denoted by +𝑄 or +𝑞.
(b)Negative Charge or Negative Ion(s): When the number of electrons present in an
atom become more than the number of protons or complete absence of proton(s) is
called Negative Charge or Negative Ion(s). It is denoted by −𝑄 or – 𝑞.
❖ Net charge carried by a body or conductor is given by 𝑸 = 𝒏. 𝒆, where 𝑛 =
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑠 , 𝑒 = 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛.
❖ The S.I unit of charge is Coulomb (C).
❖ Following table representing the charge and the mass of each particle –
Particle Charge Mass (approximate)

e − 1.6 × 10−19 𝐶 9.109 × 10−31 𝐾𝑔 (Lightest particle in an atom)

p + 1.6 × 10−19 𝐶 1.672 × 10−27 𝐾𝑔

n 𝑛𝑒𝑢𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑙 1.674 × 10−27 𝐾𝑔 (Heaviest particle in an atom)

❖ Free Electrons and Bounded Electrons: Free electrons are those electrons which are
not bound to any particular atom and can move randomly throughout the body, whereas a
bound electrons are those which bound to the nucleus of atom.

When a piece of conductor is not connected with cell (or battery) or the circuit is open
then free electrons move randomly in different directions. During this random motion
free electrons collide with each other and does not produce any net electric current. When
the same piece of conductor is connected to a cell (or battery) or the circuit is closed then
free electrons align themselves and flow from lower potential end to the higher potential
end of the cell (or battery). During the motion of free electrons from lower to
higher potential, electric current produces in the circuit and passes in the
opposite direction i.e. from higher potential end to the lower potential end
of the cell or battery.

✓ Conventional direction of flow of current: Current flows from higher

potential terminal (+𝒗𝒆 terminal) to lower potential terminal (−𝒗𝒆
terminal) of the cell.
❖ Electric current or current: The rate of flow charge or free electrons with respect to
time through a conductor of any cross sectional area is called current OR The amount of
charge or free electrons passing through a conductor of any cross sectional area in per unit
second is called current.

✓ Current is denoted by I or i.
𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒆(𝑸) 𝒏. 𝒆
∴ 𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 (𝑰) = =
𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆(𝒕) 𝒕
 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒐𝒎𝒃
𝑺. 𝑰 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 → 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝑨𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒆 (𝑨)
𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅

❖ Electric circuit: Electric circuit is the path which allows electricity to flow through it
depending on whether it is closed or open circuit. It is used to provide electricity for various
purposes such as running electric motors, providing electricity to a bulb or a fan, generating
heat etc.

❖ Components of Electric circuit: An electric component can be an element of an electric

circuit that helps in its functioning. Some components of an electric circuit are given below
–
Component Symbol Purpose of use

Providing potential
difference or voltage (V) to
produce
electric current (I)
in a closed electrical
circuit.

OR
 Acts as a source
of electricity.
OR

Converting Electrical
energy into light energy.

Used to make a circuit

ON (closed circuit) and
OFF (open circuit).

OR

Used to connect different

electrical appliances or
components to make it
closed circuit.
❖ Open circuit: The incomplete circuit through which electric current cannot pass is called
open circuit. When switched is OFF or there is a broken in the circuit then the circuit
becomes an open circuit.
❖ Closed circuit: The complete circuit through which electric current can pass is called open
circuit. When switched is ON or there is no broken in the circuit then the circuit becomes
an open circuit.

❖ Resistance: The property of a conductor by which it resists the flow of current through it,
is called resistance of the conductor. In general, resistance is denoted by r or R.
✓ The resistance of a conductor depends on the three factors –
i. Material of the conductor (
ii. Length of the conductor ( )
iii. Area of cross section of the conductor (A).
✓ If a wire has length and cross sectional area A then the resistance (R) of the wire is
given by –

Where, . It is the
property of the material and always constant for a material of fixed composition.
So, for a conductor of particular composition –
(a) i.e. for a fixed area of cross section, resistance will increase as the length of
conductor increases and vice versa
(b) i.e. for a fixed length of conductor, resistance will decrease as the area of
cross sectional area increases and vice versa

**According to Ohm’s Law if temperature and other physical conditions remain same
then current passing through a conductor is directly proportional to the potential
difference between two terminals of the conductor.

Where proportional constant, known as resistance.

 ❖ Heating effect of current: When electric current is passed through a conductor, it
produces heat in the conductor and this effect is called the heating effect of electric
current.
**According to Joule’s law, heating effect of current is given by 𝑯 = 𝑰𝟐𝑹𝒕 Joule(J)
[ Joule is the S.I unit of heat energy].
Where 𝐻 = 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 , 𝐼 = 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝑅 = 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡 =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡.
According to the 𝑯 = 𝑰 𝑹𝒕
𝟐

(a)𝐻 ∝ 𝐼2 when R and t remain constant i.e. if resistance and time remain constant
then heat produced in the conductor will increase as the current increases and vice
versa.
(b) 𝐻 ∝ 𝑅 when I and t remain constant i.e. if current and time remain constant
then heat produced in the conductor will increase as the resistance increases and
vice versa.
(c) 𝐻 ∝ 𝑡 when R and I remain constant i.e. if resistance and current remain constant
then heat produced in the conductor will increase as the time of flow of current
increases and vice versa.
✓ Except Current, Resistance and Time, the heat that produced in the wire depends on
the factors (a) the material of the wire (b) the length of the wire (c) the thickness of the
wire

❖ Disadvantage of heating effect: (a) Due to heating effect of current wastage of

electrical energy takes place in the form of heat energy (b) Due to high heating effect the
insulation on wires and electrical devices get damaged.
❖ Advantage of heating effect: Heating effect of current provides us Light and Heat
energy from different electrical devices.
✓ The heating element in electric heater, electric iron, electric stove, geysers,
electric toaster etc. is mainly made up of metal alloy called nichrome (alloy of
80% nickel and 20% chromium). Nichrome wire have high resistance to electric
 current and can withstand high temperatures. Due to this property, it is a good
material for making heating elements.

✓ A bulb has a partial vacuum, argon gas and a thin filament mainly made up of
tungsten. Tungsten metal has a very high resistance and very high melting point.

❖ What makes a bulb glow?

• A bulb glows due to the heating effect of electric current.

• A bulb has a partial vacuum, argon gas and a thin filament of tungsten.
• Tungsten metal has a very high resistance and very high melting point.
• When an electric current pass through the filament, due to its high resistance, its
heat up quickly to about 2500 degree Celsius.
• At this temperature, the tungsten filament begins to glow and emits light

❖ Overload: When the number appliances connected to a electrical circuit becomes more
then excess amount of current flows through the wire which results overheating and
causes damage of insulation of wires, is called overload. Overload sometimes causes fires
in the circuit.
❖ Short circuit: Connecting a low resistance (ideally 𝑅 = 0) wire between two points in a
circuit where there is a voltage, is called short circuit.
 In the above diagram AB is a short circuit wire. Ideally AB wire should have 𝑅 = 0, then
huge the currents from the cell will pass through it instead of flowing through the bulb.

❖ Fuse: A fuse or an electric fuse is a safety device made of a material with low melting
point and high resistance. It is used to protect the electric circuit and devices in the circuit
from the excess current passing through them due to short circuit or overload.

How does a fuse work?

• Electric fuse works on the principle of the heating effect of electric current.
• The quantity of heat produced in a conductor by a current depends on the amount of
current flowing through the conductor.
• A fuse is a thin wire of short length that melts easily when heated.
• When the fuse wire breaks due to heating by excess amount of current, the circuit
breaks and becomes an open circuit; no current can flow through it and the devices
in the circuit are safe.
• The fuse wire is made from an alloy of tin and lead and has a low melting
point and high resistance. Hence, it melts easily when more than the designated
amount of current flows through the circuit.
• The main characteristic of a fuse wire are that it must have low melting point and
relatively high resistance.
❖ Magnetic effect of current: A current carrying conductor produces the same effect
as produced by the magnetic field of a magnet. This effect of current is called the magnetic
effect of electric current.
Hans Christian Oersted discovered that the needle of a compass deflects when an electric
current is passed through a wire placed near the compass. This indicates that a magnetic
field is created near the wire that deflects the needle.

Figure showing deflection in Compass Needle due to Electric Current

❖ Electromagnet: An Electromagnet is a device that acts as a temporary magnet when a

current flows through it.
✓ It consists of a magnetic material such a soft iron piece and the coil (winding) of
insulated copper wire tightly wound around it.
✓ The material on which the insulated wire is wound is called its core.
✓ It is a temporary magnet that loses its magnetic property when the current through
the circuit is withdrawn.

❖ Applications of electromagnet:
Electromagnets have a variety of applications in industries and in our daily life. Some
of the these are listed below:
 • In electric cranes to lift scrap iron.
• As armature of electric motors.
• In electronic devices such a television, radio and tape recorder.
• In magnetic levitation trains, mechanical relay circuits and electric bells.
• In CT/ MRI scanning for medical diagnosis.

❖ Solenoid: A cylindrical- shaped coil that exhibits magnetic properties similar to that of
a bar magnet when current is passed through it is called a solenoid. The magnetic
strength of a solenoid can be increased by increasing the amount of current
flowing through it and increasing the number of turns of the coil.

❖ Electric bell: An electric bell is a device which works based on the principle of Electro
magnet.

• Components of an Electric Bell –

• A coil of wire wound over an iron piece that forms the Electromagnet.
• An iron strip (soft iron armature) which has a hammer attached to it which is joined
to the wire coil.
• A contact screw through which is attached to the iron strip.
• A battery which connects the wire coil and the contact screw.
• A switch in the middle of the circuit.

❖ Working of an Electric Bell –

• When the switch of the Bell is ON, an electric current flows through the coil of wire
which makes the iron piece attached to it act as an Electromagnet.
• As a result, the iron piece attracts the hammer towards itself. The hammer thus hits
the bell and a sound is produced.
• As the hammer move towards the iron piece, it moves away from the contact screw
which breaks down the circuit.
• As the circuit breaks the wire coil stops receiving any current which makes the
electromagnet lose its magnetic effect.
• As a result, the hammer falls back to its original position.
• Then as the hammer falls back the iron strip again comes in contact with the contact
screw and the circuit gets completed.
• This again turns the iron piece into an electromagnet and the whole process continues
until the bell is switched OFF. This results in the continuous ringing of the bell.

Practice Questions
Fill in the blanks:
a. A complete path for the flow of electric current is called ________
b. A device used to break or complete the circuit is ________
c. The flow of charges through a circuit is called________
d. Combination of cells is called ________.
e. Unit of electric current is ________.
f. Tungsten metal has ________.
g. If a current flows through a circuit then it is called a ________.
h. An Electromagnet is a ________.
i. An electric bell is based on the principle of ________.
j. The alloy used to make the heating element in heating devices is ________.
k. The device used to protect an electric circuit from excess current is called a
________.
l. A fuse wire is an alloy of lead and ________.

Choose the correct answer:

1. The given image shows the arrangement of an electric circuit.

Which of the circuit diagram represents the correct electric circuit?

(a) (b) (c) (d)

2. Which of these precautions must be followed while working with electricity?

(a) Avoid switching on an electric switch connected to the mains
(b) Avoid touching a lighted electric bulb connected to the mains
(c) Always make your hand wet before touching any electric appliances
(d) Always wait for the electric appliance to become hot before holding them

3. A student wants to conduct an experiment using an electric circuit. He wants to

reduce the risk involved in the procedure. Which of these methods should he adopt to
reduce the risk involved in an electric circuit?
(a) Use electricity from mains
(b) Use an inverter for electricity
(c) Use a generator for electricity
(d) Use electric cells for electricity

4. Which of these appliances converts electricity into heat?

(a) Fan and Iron
(b) Iron and Geyser
(c) Cell phone and Iron
(d) Electric bell and Television

5. A student performs an experiment where he uses a heating coil to heat the water
as shown in the image. The initial temperature of the water is measured as 10°C. After
switching it on for 5 min, the student records the temperature of the water as 18°C.

The water is allowed to return back to its initial temperature. The activity is then repeated
with another heating coil having half the length of the original heating coil. He notices
that after 5 minutes the temperature of the water reads 14°C. Which statement can be
concluded based on the activity?
(a)Reading on thermometer reduces with time.
(b)Temperature of water drops with every repetition.
(c)Length of the material affects the amount of heating.
(d)Temperature of the water increases after a certain period of time.

6. A student performs an experiment where a wire is wrapped around a nail as shown

in the image. As she completes the circuit, she notices that a nearby nail gets attracted to
the nail wrapped in the wire.

What causes the nails to attract each other?

(a) Metal objects always attract each other.
(b) Gravitational force causes them to attract.
(c) Difference in the size of the nails causes the attraction.
(d) Magnetic effect due to the flow of electricity causes the attraction.

7. A student understands that a hammer in an electric bell strikes the gong when the
current passing through the circuit turns the coil into an electromagnet. He also observes
that when a switch is held on, the hammer repeatedly strikes the gong.What causes the
hammer to continue striking?
(a) Production of heat in the wires of the circuit.
(b) Melting of the wire due to the flow of electricity.
(c) Repetition of breaking and completion of the circuit.
(d) Material of the gong causes vibration in the hammer.
8. Choose the statement which is not correct in the case of an electric fuse.
(a) Fuses are inserted in electric circuits of all buildings.
(b) There is a maximum limit on the current which can safely flow through the electric
circuits.
(c) There is a minimum limit on the current which can safely flow in the electric circuits.
(d) If a proper fuse is inserted in a circuit it will blow off if current exceeds the safe limit.

9.Rahul made the following conclusion when a switch is in OFF position, (i)
circuit starting from the positive terminal of the cell stops at the switch.
(ii) circuit is open.
(iii) no current flows through it.
(iv) current flows after some time.
Choose the combination of correct answer from the following.
(a) all are correct
(b) (ii) and (iii) are correct
(c) only (iv) is correct
(d) only (i) and (ii) are correct

10. At the time of short circuit, current in the circuit

(a) reduce substantially
(b) does not change
(c) increases heavily
(d) varies continuously

Short answer type:

1. What are open and closed circuits?
2. Name the device which protects the circuit against sudden increase in electric
current?
3. What do you mean by the heating effect of electric current?
4. What do you mean by the magnetic effect of electric current?
5. When a bulb is switched on it becomes extremely hot. Why?
6. Which device allows us to break and complete an electric circuit?
7. What is a solenoid?
8. Why is the filament of the bulb made of a thin tungsten wire?
9. Name two appliances that use Electromagnet?

Long answer type:

1. What is an electromagnet? Suggest any two methods to increase the strength of an
electromagnet?
2. (i) What is an electric fuse? Explain how a fuse helps to protect a circuit? (ii) Explain
the importance of a fuse in an electric circuit?
3. Explain one experiment to show the magnetic effect of electric current?
4. What is an electric circuit? Use symbols and draw diagram of a circuit having a single
cell, a bulb and a switch?
5. Describe how two cells can be connected in series and in parallel with the help of
suitable diagrams?

CBL Type Question:

1. State one measure to avoid overloading in an electrical circuit. Also mention the name
given to a situation in which the live and the neutral wires accidently come in contact.
Describe the role of a safety device in this situation.
2. Name the device used these days in place of electric fuses in electrical circuits.
3. Explain why are CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) preferred over electric bulbs.
4. Briefly state the effects of electricity.