Class 10 Physics: Electricity and Magnetic Effects of Electric Current

Vocabulary flashcards covering core definitions, units, laws, circuit components, and concepts from Class 10 Physics topics Electricity and Magnetic Effects of Electric Current.

Magnet

A material that attracts objects made of iron, nickel, or cobalt and produces a surrounding region where magnetic force can be felt.

Bar Magnet

A rectangular piece of material (usually iron or steel) having permanent magnetism with a north pole and south pole where magnetic strength is strongest.

Magnetic Compass

A small magnet in the form of a needle that rotates freely in a horizontal plane to detect the presence and direction of a magnetic field.

Magnetic Field

The region surrounding a magnet in which the magnetic force can be detected.

Magnetic Field Lines

Imaginary continuous curves used to represent a magnetic field, showing the path along which a north pole of a compass needle moves.

Right-Hand Thumb Rule (Maxwell's Rule)

A rule stating that if a straight current-carrying conductor is held in the right hand with the thumb pointing in the direction of current, the curl of the fingers gives the direction of magnetic field lines.

Solenoid

A coil consisting of many circular turns of insulated copper wire wound closely in the shape of a cylinder.

Electromagnet

A temporary magnet formed when a soft iron core is placed inside a current-carrying solenoid.

Fleming's Left-Hand Rule

A rule stating that if the forefinger (magnetic field), middle finger (current), and thumb of the left hand are stretched mutually perpendicular, the thumb indicates the direction of motion or magnetic force on the conductor.

Electric Charge

A fundamental property of matter that can be positive or negative, measured in the SI unit of coulomb ($\text{C}$).

Quantisation of Charge

The principle stating that any observable charge on a body is an integral multiple of the elementary charge $e = 1.6 \times 10^{-19}\,\text{C}$, expressed as $Q = \pm n e$.

Electric Current

The rate of flow of electric charge through a cross-section of a conductor per unit time ($I = \frac{Q}{t}$), measured in amperes ($\text{A}$).

One Ampere

The current flowing through a conductor when $1\,\text{coulomb}$ of charge flows through it per $1\,\text{second}$ ($1\,\text{A} = \frac{1\,\text{C}}{1\,\text{s}}$).

Electric Potential Difference

The work done to move a unit charge between two points in an electric circuit ($V = \frac{W}{Q}$), measured in volts ($\text{V}$).

One Volt

The potential difference between two points when $1\,\text{joule}$ of work is done to move $1\,\text{coulomb}$ of positive charge ($1\,\text{V} = \frac{1\,\text{J}}{1\,\text{C}}$).

Ammeter

An instrument used to measure electric current in a circuit, connected in series with the circuit component.

Voltmeter

An instrument used to measure potential difference between two points in a circuit, connected in parallel across the component.

Resistance ($R$)

The property of a conductor to oppose the flow of electric current through it ($R = \frac{V}{I}$), measured in ohms ($\Omega$).

One Ohm

The resistance of a conductor when a potential difference of $1\,\text{V}$ across its ends allows a current of $1\,\text{A}$ to flow ($1\,\Omega = \frac{1\,\text{V}}{1\,\text{A}}$).

Ohm's Law

The law stating that potential difference ($V$) across a conductor is directly proportional to the current ($I$) flowing through it, provided temperature remains constant ($V = I R$).

Rheostat

A variable resistor used to regulate electric current in a circuit without altering the voltage source.

Resistivity ($\rho$)

A fundamental property of a material equal to the resistance of a conductor of unit length and unit cross-sectional area ($\rho = \frac{R A}{L}$), measured in ohm-metres ($\Omega\cdot\text{m}$).

Series Combination

A circuit connection where resistors are joined end-to-end so that the same current flows through each, with total resistance $R_{\text{net}} = R_1 + R_2 + R_3$.

Parallel Combination

A circuit connection where resistors are connected across common points, sharing the same voltage, with total resistance $\frac{1}{R_{\text{net}}} = \frac{1}{R_1} + \frac{1}{R_2} + \frac{1}{R_3}$.

Joule's Law of Heating

The principle stating that heat produced in a conductor is directly proportional to the square of current, resistance, and time ($H = I^2 R t$).

Electric Fuse

A protective device containing a wire with a low melting point and high resistance, connected in series with the live wire to break the circuit during excessive current flow.

Nichrome

An alloy of nickel and chromium with high resistivity and a high melting point, commonly used as a heating element because it does not oxidise easily at high temperatures.

Tungsten

A metal with a high melting point of about $3380^\circ\text{C}$, used as the filament material in incandescent electric bulbs.

Electrical Power ($P$)

The rate at which electric energy is consumed or dissipated in an electric circuit ($P = \frac{W}{t} = V I = I^2 R = \frac{V^2}{R}$), measured in watts ($\text{W}$).

One Watt

The power consumed when $1\,\text{ampere}$ of current flows through a circuit under a potential difference of $1\,\text{volt}$ ($1\,\text{W} = 1\,\text{V} \times 1\,\text{A}$).

Electric Energy

The total work done or energy consumed by an electric device when current flows through it for a given time ($E = P \times t$).

Kilowatt-hour ($\text{kWh}$)

The commercial unit of electric energy representing energy consumed by a $1\,\text{kW}$ appliance operating for $1\,\text{hour}$, equal to $3.6 \times 10^6\,\text{J}$.

Live Wire

A supply wire with red insulation maintained at $220\,\text{V}$ potential that carries electric current from the power source to household appliances.

Neutral Wire

A wire with black insulation maintained at $0\,\text{V}$ potential that completes the circuit by carrying current back from appliances.

Earth Wire

A safety wire with green insulation connected to a metal plate in the earth, providing a low-resistance path for leakage current to prevent electric shock.

Short-Circuiting

A condition occurring when live and neutral wires come into direct contact, causing circuit resistance to drop near zero and current to rise abruptly.

Overloading

A condition occurring when an electrical circuit carries more current than its safe capacity due to connecting too many appliances or a voltage hike.

Alternating Current (AC)

Electric current that periodically reverses its direction of flow over time, suitable for long-distance power transmission.

Direct Current (DC)

Electric current that flows steadily in one single direction.