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Practical Electricity

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20 views

Practical Electricity

Uploaded by

Wilson Ang
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PHYSICS​

PRACTICAL ELECTRICITY

Uses of Electricity

Electronic Heating

➔​ Heating element is usually made of nichrome (alloy of nickel and chromium) coiled
round an insulating fire-proof material as it has high resistivity

Electric Iron

➔​ Metal base so heat spread evenly over a large surface


area
➔​ Uses a thermostat to control and maintain its
temperature – done by adjusting the temperature dial
(thermostat control) on the iron
➔​ Energy in the internal store generated in the heating element quickly conducted to
the metal base – allows clothes to be ironed through the heat and weight of the iron

Electric Kettle

➔​ Nichrome heating element(placed at the bottom of the


kettle) coiled round a fire-proof material and enclosed
in a metal tube — heats up as an electric current is
passed through it
➔​ Water in the kettle to be heated through convection
and conduction

Electric Heating Appliances

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-​ Have a heating element and transfer energy electrically to the internal store of the
appliance

Electric Lighting

➔​ An incandescent (filament) bulb has a wire


filament that is heated to a high temperature by
passing an electric current through it
➔​ Energy from the chemical potential store of the
battery is transferred electrically to increase the
energy in the internal store of the bulb
➔​ Subsequently transferred to internal store of surrounding air by:
●​ Propagation of electromagnetic waves(propagation of infra-red radiation and
visible light waves)
●​ heating due to a temperature difference
➔​ Hot filament protected from oxidation through a glass bulb filled with inert gas
➔​ Incandescent bulb is much less efficient than other types of lighting such as
light-emitting diode (LED) as it converts less than 5% of the supplied energy into
visible light

Measuring Energy Transferred Electrically

Electric Heating

➔​ P = IV → E = IVt
➔​ P = I2R → E = I2Rt
2 2
𝑉 𝑉𝑡
➔​ P = 𝑅
→E= 𝑅

➔​ SI unit
●​ Power: Watt(W)
●​ Energy: Joule(J)

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Cost of Electric Consumption

➔​ Kilowatt-hour (kWh): Energy used by a 1kW appliance in 1h


➔​ 1 kWh = (1 kW) × (1 h)

= (1000 W) × (3600 s)

= 3.60 × 106 J

*Power rating measures the amount of energy used by component PER HOUR

*State what is meant when a lamp has a rating of 𝑥 V, 𝑦 W and find its resistance

Response

-​ The lamp works normally (100% brightness) when a potential difference of 𝑥 V is


applied across it
-​ 𝑦 J of energy per second from the chemical potential store of the battery
transferred electrically to the lamp by an electric current and subsequently
transferred by propagation of electromagnetic waves (infra-red radiation + visible
light waves) to increase energy in the internal store of the surrounding air

Dangers of Electricity

-​ Live and neutral wires needed to form complete circuit with main supply
-​ Live wire is dangerous due to high potential
-​ Neutral wire is at low/zero potential
-​ Both wires are:
-​ normally insulated by vulcanised rubber
-​ housed together in circular PVC sheathed cable or a braided-rubber
insulated cable

Damaged Insulators

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-​ Insulating material deteriorates and wires becoming exposed due to damage
insulation over time and use
-​ Touching exposed wire may lead to an electric shock and even death
-​ Direct contact between two wires causes short circuit → large current flows
through wires → may produce enough heat to cause a fire

Overheating of Cables

➔​ Overly large current flowing through the conducting wires due to:
-​ plugging too many appliances into the same power outlet → overloading
→ excessively large current drawn from the main supply as all appliances are
connected in parallel
-​ electric cable carrying current exceeding maximum current its meant to carry
➔​ Cables become overheated and lead to a fire

Damp Conditions

➔​ Water provides a conducting path for a large current to flow from a live wire to a
person + electrical resistance of the human body reduces drastically when the skin
is wet → electric shocks or even death
➔​ Ways to protect ourselves from electric shocks
-​ Must not handle electrical appliances with wet hands
-​ Keep hands dry when coming in contact with electrical appliances and / or
wearing rubber shoes (especially when carrying out electrical repairs)

Safety Features in Home Circuitries

Circuit Breaker

➔​ Switches off electrical supply to a circuit when large currents exceeding their current
ratings flow through them
➔​ Connected to the live wires of the main electrical wiring to prevent current surges
damaging appliances or causing electrical fires

*Prevents overheating

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*Home appliances should be connected in parallel as entire section will not work if one is
not in use

*Operates faster by disconnecting appliance to the circuit and does not need to be
replaced

Fuse

➔​ Safety devices inserted into electrical circuits


➔​ Melts when current flowing through it is larger
than rated value → breaks circuit
➔​ Always connected to the live wire
➔​ Fuses should have rating slightly more than current drawn from
an electrical appliance (nearest whole number upwards)
➔​ Switch off mains before charging fuse
➔​ Ensures appliance is at low potential and thus safe to touch

*Prevents overheating

*Normally rated in whole numbers at 1A-13A

Switches

➔​ Used to break or complete an electric circuit


➔​ Fitted to the live wire – high potential from
supply disconnected from appliance when the
switch is turned off → ensures appliance is at
low potential and safe to touch

*Two-way switch used to control a single lamp

*Prevents overheating

Earthing

Live Wire (Brown)

5
➔​ Connected to a high potential and delivers current to the appliance
➔​ Circuit breakers, fuses and switches are placed on this wire

Neutral Wire (Blue)

-​ Completes the circuit by providing a returning path for the current


-​ Usually has a potential of 0 V

Earth Wire (Yellow/Green)

➔​ Electrical safety feature: Earth wire connected to metal casing


➔​ Low resistance wire connected to metal casing of appliances
➔​ Earth pin longer to open up covered live and neutral holes of a power socket
➔​ Live wire touches metal casing → metal casing of an electrical appliance may
become live (ie. have a high potential) → user touching the casing may be
electrocuted if no earth wire is connected to the casing due to the large p.d.
between the casing and earth
➔​ Large current flowing through live wire will not flow through the user but to ground
instead through low-resistance earth wire → lower resistance increases current
with constant e.m.f → large current exceeds fuse rating of the fuse on the live
wire → fuse blows → circuit opens → electrical supply to the appliance cut off →
no current flowing through the appliance
➔​ Cartridge fuse protects against an overly large current flowing through the circuit
when there is an electrical fault

*Prevents electric shock

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*Wires in plug should be fully connected and not have exposed wires

The cable grip should secure the outer cable and not the wires

Double Insulation

➔​ Can be substitute for earth wire


➔​ Electrical cables insulated from internal components of appliance
➔​ Internal parts insulated from external casing
➔​ Casings of appliances with double insulation typically made of non metals
➔​ Two layers of insulating materials to enclose all metal framework and live parts

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