Practical Electric Circuit

Lighting

Heating

Motor
Uses of Electricity

Electric
Kettle

Electric
Iron

Radiator

Electric
Oven

Uses of Electricity >> Heating

Question
Explain how the heating element at the bottom
of an electric kettle transfer thermal energy
throughout the whole liquid.
Heating element positioned at the bottom
Electric current flows through the heating
element and this generates heat
Water around the element is heated first
by conduction
Thermal energy is transferred through the
water by convection
Warm water around heating element expands
Its density decreases and floats
Displacing cooler water at the top
Continuous cycle forms a convection current that
warms the entire liquid

Uses of Electricity >> Heating >> Electric Kettle

Thermal energy spreads evenly over a large

heat-conducting base
Safety Measure
Base insulated from the heating element
Design Features
Contains a thermostat which switches current off
when they get too hot
Thermostat switches current on again when the iron
cools below the temperature selected

Uses of Electricity >> Heating >> Electric Iron

Heating element

Question
Explain how a heater draws air from its
surrounding to warm up the room in a temperate
climate.
Air is drawn in through the bottom and
heated by the heating element as current
flows through it to generate heat.
The warm air then rises in the room.
Warm air around heater expands
Its density decreases and floats
Displacing cooler air at the top of the room
Continuous cycle forms a convection current that
warms the entire room
Design Features
The heating elements are often shaped like metal
fins to increase surface area
Some are filled with fluid to maximise thermal
energy retention

Uses of Electricity >> Heating >> Electric Heater (Radiator)

Heating element

Question
Explain why the heating elements are often
shaped like metal fins.
This design helps to increase surface area to maximise
transfer of heat to surrounding air by conduction.

Question
Some models of radiators are found to fill their
metal fins with fluid. Explain how this helps to
increase its effectiveness.
The fluid helps to maximise thermal energy retention
because of its high heat capacity.

Uses of Electricity >> Heating >> Electric Heater (Radiator)

Explain how is thermal energy transferred

within the electric oven.

Uses of Electricity >> Heating >> Electric Oven

Activity 1

How does an electric current

produce a heating effect ?

Uses of Electricity >> Heating

The heating element is usually made of nichrome wire coiled

round an insulating fire-proof material.

Nichrome is chosen because of its high resistivity and high

melting point.

It also does not oxidise easily even at high temperatures.

When the electric current flows through the wire, it heats up

by means of conduction.

The rate at which the electrical energy is converted to

thermal energy depends on the size of the current and the
resistance of the element

Uses of Electricity >> Heating

Lighting

Uses of Electricity >> Lighting

Question
Explain how tungsten is used as a material for filament in
a bulb as shown in the diagram.

Filament is made of
tungsten because of its
high resistivity and
melting point.
The filament is very thin &
long (coiled), giving it a
higher resistance
(R=l A)
When an electric current
flows through the filament,
the tungsten gets extremely
hot and generates light.

Uses of Electricity >> Lighting >> Filament Lamp

Motor

Uses of Electricity >> Motor

Food mixer

Electric fan
Use electromagnetic effects
to convert electrical energy to
rotational kinetic energy.

Hard drive
Uses of Electricity >> Motor

Uses of Electricity >> Calculating Electrical Power

Electrical
Power / W
P = IV
P = I2R
P = V2/R

Electrical
Energy / J
E = Ivt
E = I2Rt
E = (V2/R)t
E = Pt

Uses of Electricity >> Calculating Electrical Power

Work Book p.153

Topic 19A
1, 2, 3, 4

Uses of Electricity >> Calculating Electrical Power

Power ratings show the correct working

voltage and power consumption needed
to use them.
Uses of Electricity >> Power Rating

Unit of Measurement

kWh
Alternative to Joule (J)

An electricity meter

How many Joules (J)

are there in 1 kWh?

Uses of Electricity >> Electricity Consumption

Tariff

Cost = (228 x $0.2258) + (137 x $0.2728)

Uses of Electricity >> Electricity Consumption

Appliance

Phone charger
Laptop
Air-conditioning
Lamp
Water heater
Electric fan

Power Rating /
W

Duration of use
per day / h

5W

Cost / $

0.065 kW
1.5 kW
36 W
2000 W
72 W
Total Cost

Uses of Electricity >> Electricity Consumption

Workbook p.153
Topic 19A
5 10, 11

Uses of Electricity >> Electricity Consumption

"Laurence [A History of Capital Punishment] reports the

common technique: 2000-2200 volts at 7-12 amperes for 6090 seconds, possibly lowered and reapplied at various
intervals until death."

Uses of Electricity >> Hazards of Electricity

Overheating of cables

Damaged insulation
or frayed electrical
cable

Overloading
Wet condition

Uses of Electricity >> Hazards of Electricity

Question
Explain cables with damaged insulation
can be a hazard. Suggest how this can be
remedied.

Damaged insulation
or frayed electrical
cable

Damaged insulation between the live

and neutral wires may result in a
short circuit

The current flowing through will then

suddenly become very large

This can produce enough heat to

start a fire

Remedy:
Replace the cable

Uses of Electricity >> Hazards of Electricity

Overheating of cables

Question
Explain how electric cables can become
overheated and what can be done to prevent it.

Fitting wires or cables with unsuitable

power rating to appliances.

Too much current flowing through thin

wires of higher resistance can cause
overheating.

This can cause a fire.

Remedy
Fit wires of correct power rating to
appliances.

Uses of Electricity >> Hazards of Electricity

Question
Explain what is overloading and how this can be
an electrical hazard.

Connecting too many electrical appliances into

the same power outlet, through the use of
multi-way adaptors.

If all of these electrical appliances were used

at the same time, the total current drawn by
them through the electrical cable from the
mains supply may be so large that the cable
becomes overloaded and overheated.

This may result in a fire.

Overloading

Remedy
Distribute connection of appliances across multiple
power outlets.

Uses of Electricity >> Hazards of Electricity

Question
Explain why it is potentially hazardous to handle electrical appliance
under wet conditions.

Using electrical appliance under wet or damp

conditions.

Dry skin has a resistance of 100 000 or more.

When skin is wet, resistance falls drastically to

just a few hundred ohms.

Wet condition

Since water can conduct electric current, the

user may get an electric shock.

Remedy

Never operate an electrical appliance with wet

hands

Switches, plugs, sockets and connecting wires

should always be kept in a dry condition

Uses of Electricity >> Hazards of Electricity

Uses of Electricity >> Safety Measures

A lighting circuit with

two-way switches

Question
What is a lighting circuit? Explain why are high-powered appliances not used
in this circuit commonly.

A parallel circuit, using mainly thin wires, connected to lighting components only
Cables used are quite thin because they are cheaper and also because current flowing
through are seldom more than 3 A

Current carried by the circuit do not generate a lot of heat

However, larger currents will cause appreciable heating
Hence, high-powered appliances should never be used in lighting circuit

Uses of Electricity >> Safety Measures >> Lighting Circuit

Fuse
A thin wire with low melting point. When a high
current flows through the live wire, excess heat
generated will melt the wire, thereby isolating the
appliance from the live current.
Uses of Electricity >> Safety Measures >> Fuse

C
A lighting circuit with
two-way switches

Each lamp in the Lighting Circuit draws different

amount of current. What should be the fuse rating of
A, B and C?
Hint:
1.Fuses are usually selected with ratings slightly higher than the required
operating current.
2.Common fuse ratings are 1A, 3A, 5A, 13A

Uses of Electricity >> Safety Measures >> Fuse

Uses of Electricity >> Safety Measures >> Power Circuit

 live
live wire:
wire: brown
brown
(maintained
(maintained at
at high
high voltage
voltage
240
240 V)
V)
neutral
neutral wire:
wire: blue
blue
(maintained
(maintained at
at zero
zero
voltage)
voltage)
earth
earth wire:
wire: yellow
yellow and
and
green
green (or
(or just
just green)
green) (zero
(zero
voltage
voltage for
for safety
safety purpose)
purpose)
Note
Note that
that only
only the
the live
live and
and
neutral
neutral wires
wires are
are required
required
to
to create
create a
a p.d.
p.d. for
for current
current
to
to flow
flow through
through an
an
appliance
appliance

eart
h

live

Uses of Electricity >> Safety Measures >> Power Circuit

P.D.
Current

Live

Neutral

Earth

240 V

0V

240 V

Since our bodies

are usually at
earth potential ( 0
V ), if someone
touches a live
wire, the large p.d.
will cause a large
current to flow
through his body.

If a person
touches the
neutral wire , the
person should not
get an electric
shock because
the neutral wire is
at the same
potential as the
body, so there will
A fuse must be
be no current
installed on the
flowing through
Live wire to isolate the body.
appliance from the
current.

What is an Earth
wire?
Connect metal
casing of an
appliance to the
ground. If the live
wire of the appliance
touches the metal
casing, a large
current will flow to
the Earth and blow
the fuse in the live
wire. In this way, the
case is prevented
from being live and
users will avoid an
electric shock.

Uses of Electricity >> Safety Measures >> Power Circuit

Question
How could the absence of an earth wire in the power
circuit be a potential electrical hazard to users?

If the live wire accidentally comes in contact with the metal casing of the
electric iron, the casing will become live with a potential of 240 V.
Current will flow from the high-voltage wire through the person touching
the metal casing and to the Earth.

Uses of Electricity >> Safety Measures >> Power Circuit

Question A
Draw a diagram to show how a power circuit can include a fuse,
an earth wire and an electrical appliance to prevent potential
electrical hazard due to a user touching a live metal casing.

Uses of Electricity >> Safety Measures >> Power Circuit

Question B
From the diagram you drew in (A), explain how the fuse and
the earth wire prevent the appliance from becoming live and
the user from getting electrocuted.

As soon as the live wire touches the casing, there will be a

short circuit.
Current will flow from the live wire through the casing to the
Earth via the earth wire.

The large surge of current will melt the fuse, break the live
wire connection and isolate the appliance.

As long as the metal casing is properly earthed and a fuse

installed on the live wire, the person will not get an electric
shock should he or she touch the faulty appliance

Uses of Electricity >> Safety Measures >> Power Circuit

Question C
Explain what happens if the fuse is installed on the neutral or
earth wire instead.

In the event of a short circuit, a large surge of current will

still flow through the live wire into the appliance.

The fuse that eventually blows on the neutral or earth wire

will not isolate the appliance from the live current.

Users who accidentally touch the metal casing can still get
electrocuted.

Uses of Electricity >> Safety Measures >> Power Circuit

Uses of Electricity >> Safety Measures >> Ring Circuit

Question
Electrical appliances are connected to power circuits through the
use of three-pin plugs. Explain why the earth pin is designed to be
longer than the live and neutral pins.

Earth pin is longer than the other two so that it makes contact first with the
socket and opens the safety shutters that cover the slots for the live and
neutral pins
This feature ensures that the electrical device is properly earthed before it
is connected to the mains supply with the live and neutral wires

Uses of Electricity >> Safety Measures >> 3-pin plugs

Question
Other than a longer earth pin, explain how the fuse and the cord
grip inside the 3-pin plug address potential electrical hazards.

The cord grip holds the cables in place firmly to prevent any chance
of a short circuit.
The fuse is installed on the live wire to cut off circuit and isolate
appliance when a large surge of current flows through it.

Uses of Electricity >> Safety Measures >> 3-pin plugs

Question
Explain how a switch can be
used as a safety device.
A switch is used to turn an
electrical appliance on and off
In the case of an accident where
someone touches a live wire and
gets an electric shock, a switch
can be used as a safety device to
cut off the flow of current from
the main power supply

A wall switch

Uses of Electricity >> Safety Measures >> Switch

Two switches can sometimes

be used for control, for
example, a single lamp at the
top and bottom of a staircase
or at opposite ends of a
corridor

For this type of arrangement,

two-way switches have to be
used

Two-way switches

Uses of Electricity >> Safety Measures >> Switch

In these appliances, the casing is made of electrical insulator

and also the wire cannot touch the casing.

These appliances have only a 2-pin plug, using only the live
and neutral wires

Uses of Electricity >> Safety Measures >> Double Isolation

Question
Explain how an earth leakage circuit breaker shown
in the diagram below serves as a safety measure in
most houses.
The earth leakage circuit breaker
(ELCB) will disconnect all circuits in
the house from the mains supply in a
very short time (less than 25 ms) if
an earth leakage current of more
than 25 mA occurs
Earth leakage circuit breaker

Uses of Electricity >> Safety Measures >> Circuit Breaker

Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB)

can trip or disconnect faulty
appliances from power supply
without having the need to
replace its fuse.

Uses of Electricity >> Safety Measures >> Circuit Breaker

Switches, fuses or circuit breakers must always be inserted

along the live wires of the circuit so that when the switch is
off or the fuse has blown, the live wire is disconnected from
the high potential of 240 V

The fuse must be connected before a switch from where the

live current is flowing so that current can also isolate the
switch when it blows.

Uses of Electricity >> Safety Measures >> Installation of

switches, fuses and circuit breakers

Assignments
Type of Assignment
Theory Workbook

Topic A D
Submit relevant pages from
workbook

Submission & Checking

Submission on
23 Mar (Mon)
Attempt independently first
before consulting answer
guide
Will be marked

TYS

Topic 19
Do on foolscap paper. Do not
submit

Class to do all questions

Attempt independently first
before consulting answer
guide
Teacher to go through
selected questions during
March holiday lesson