Magnetic Effects of Electric Current

Magnetic effect of electric current is one of the major effects which functions as the basic principle
in appliances used in various fields of activities. The magnetic field around a current carrying
conductor can be depicted by using magnetic field lines which are represented in the form of
concentric circles around it. The direction of magnetic field through a current carrying conductor is
determined by the direction of flow of electric current.

The Right Hand Thumb Rule also known as Maxwell’s Corkscrew Rule is known to determine the
direction of magnetic field in relation to direction of electric current through a straight conductor.
As the direction of the electric current changes, the direction of the magnetic field also gets
reversed. If the direction of electric current in a vertically suspended current carrying conductor is
from south to north, the magnetic field will be in the anticlockwise direction. If the current is
flowing from north to south, the direction of magnetic field will be clockwise. If a current carrying
conductor is held by right hand; keeping the thumb straight and if the direction of electric current
is in the direction of thumb, then the direction of folding of other fingers will show the direction of
magnetic field. Magnitude of magnetic field is directly proportional to the number of turns of coil.
If there are ‘n’ turns of coil, magnitude of magnetic field will be ‘n’ times of magnetic field in case
of a single turn of coil.

APPLICATIONS
1.Electric Motor
An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy using the magnetic effect of
electricity. In an electric motor, a rectangular coil is suspended between the two poles of a
magnetic field. The electric supply to the coil is connected with a Commutator which reverses the
direction of flow of electric current through a circuit. When the electric current is supplied to the
coils of the electric motor, it gets deflected because of magnetic field. As it reaches the half way,
the split ring which acts as Commutator reverses the direction of flow of electric current. Reversal
of direction of electric current reverses the direction of forces acting on the coil. The change in
direction of force pushes the coil, and it moves another half turn. Thus, the coil completes one
rotation around an axle. Continuation of this process keeps the motor in rotation.

2.Electric bell
An electric bell consists of an iron core, on which is wound a wire as a coil. One end of the coil is
connected to one terminal of a battery, and the other end to a steel rod that acts like a spring for
the hammer touching the screw contact. The other terminal of the battery is connected to the
screw contact with a switch in the middle.

Working of an electric bell

Electric current flows through the coil when the switch is ON, and the iron core acts as an
electromagnet. The iron core attracts the hammer towards it. The hammer hits the bell and
produces a sound. The circuit breaks at the screw contact when the hammer moves towards the
iron core. At this point, the iron core ceases to be an electromagnet. The hammer is pulled back to
its original position due to the spring action of the steel rod, and then touches the contact again to
complete the circuit. The circuit is completed and current flows through the coil again, and the
hammer strikes the bell again. The process repeats itself and you hear a ringing sound since the
hammer keeps hitting the bell, until the switch is released.

3.GENERATOR
Generator is a machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. It works based on
principle of faraday law of electromagnetic induction. The faradays law states that whenever a
conductor is placed in a varying magnetic field, EMF is induced and this induced EMF is equal to
the rate of change of flux linkages. This EMF can be generated when there is either relative space
or relative time variation between the conductor and magnetic field. So the important elements of
a generator are:

 Magnetic field
 Motion of conductor in magnetic field

Working of Generators:
Generators are basically coils of electric conductors, normally copper wire, that are tightly wound
onto a metal core and are mounted to turn around inside an exhibit of large magnets. An electric
conductor moves through a magnetic field, the magnetism will interface with the electrons in the
conductor to induce a flow of electrical current inside it.

The conductor coil and its core are called the armature, connecting the armature to the shaft of a
mechanical power source, for example an motor, the copper conductor can turn at exceptionally
increased speed over the magnetic field.

The point when the generator armature first starts to turn, then there is a weak magnetic field in
the iron pole shoes. As the armature turns, it starts to raise voltage. Some of this voltage is making
on the field windings through the generator regulator. This impressed voltage builds up stronger
winding current, raises the strength of the magnetic field. The expanded field produces more
voltage in the armature. This, in turn, make more current in the field windings, with a resultant
higher armature voltage. At this time the signs of the shoes depended on the direction of flow of
current in the field winding. The opposite signs will give current to flow in wrong direction.

4.TRANSFORMERS

Definition
Transformer is a static device which convert electrical power from one circuit to another without
changing its frequency. it Step up (or Step down) the level of AC Voltage and Current.
Working principle
it works on the principle of mutual induction of two coils or Faraday Law’s Of Electromagnetic
induction. When current in the primary coil is changed the flux linked to the secondary coil also
changes.hence an EMF is induced in the secondary coil due to Faraday law’s of electromagnetic
induction.

The transformer is based on two principles: first, that an electric current can produce a magnetic
field (electromagnetism), and, second that a changing magnetic field within a coil of wire induces a
voltage across the ends of the coil . Changing the current in the primary coil changes the magnetic
flux that is developed. The changing magnetic flux induces a voltage in the secondary coil.

5.RELAY

What is a relay?
A relay is an electromagnetic switch that is used to turn on and turn off a circuit by a low power
signal, or where several circuits must be controlled by one signal.

We know that most of the high end industrial application devices have relays for their effective
working. Relays are simple switches which are operated both electrically and mechanically. Relays
consist of an electromagnet and also a set of contacts. The switching mechanism is carried out
with the help of the electromagnet. There are also other operating principles for its working. But
they differ according to their applications. Most of the devices have the application of relays.

How relay works?

The relay function can be better understood by explaining the following diagram given below.

The diagram shows an inner section diagram of a relay. An iron core is surrounded by a control
coil. As shown, the power source is given to the electromagnet through a control switch and
through contacts to the load. When current starts flowing through the control coil, the
electromagnet starts energizing and thus intensifies the magnetic field. Thus the upper contact
arm starts to be attracted to the lower fixed arm and thus closes the contacts causing a short
circuit for the power to the load. On the other hand, if the relay was already de-energized when
the contacts were closed, then the contact move oppositely and make an open circuit.

As soon as the coil current is off, the movable armature will be returned by a force back to its
initial position. This force will be almost equal to half the strength of the magnetic force. This force
is mainly provided by two factors. They are the spring and also gravity.

Relays are mainly made for two basic operations. One is low voltage application and the other is
high voltage. For low voltage applications, more preference will be given to reduce the noise of the
whole circuit. For high voltage applications, they are mainly designed to reduce a phenomenon
called arcing.