Third Year Science

Uses and Effects of Electricity

 In this topic:
• Direct current (DC)
• Alternating current (AC)
• Effects of Electricity:
–Heating
–Chemical
–Magnetic
 Direct Current
Direct current (DC): a current that flows
in one direction only
 Alternating Current
Alternating current (AC): a current that
flows in a continually changing direction

Plug sockets are a

source of AC power
 Kilowatt-hour
• Unit of energy = Joule
• This is too small for electrical energy

Unit of electrical energy = kilowatt-hour (kWh)

• It means: the energy used when 1 kilowatt of

power is used for 1 hour
 Power rating of appliances
• Most electrical appliances have the power
rating written on them
• Power rating units = watts or kilowatts

How much electricity

Power rating
they need to work
 Power Rating
• Once we know the cost of electricity per kWh
– We can calculate how much it costs to run an
appliance
• Let’s say that electricity costs 14 c per kWh
Appliance Powerrating Timeof Electricityused Cost
usage
Kettle 2kW 2hrs 2x2=4kWh 4x14c
=56c
If electricity costs 14 c per kW, how much
will it cost to charge my laptop for 24 hrs?
• Laptop charger = 65 W
= 65/1000 kW
= 0.065 kW

• Cost = kW x hrs x cost

= 0.065 kW x 24 hrs x 14c
= 21.84 cent
• Some appliances use more electricity than
others
• Moving motors and heat require a LOT of
electricity
 Heating Effect of Electricity
• Examples of appliances that produce heat:

Kettle Oven Heater Electric shower

 Heating Effect of Electricity

The Electric Fuse

• Found in plugs of appliances
and fuse boards
• Purpose: to limit the size of
the current in a circuit
• It is a safety device
 The Electric Fuse
Fuse
Too much Fuse heats
current up

Fuse wire
melts

Circuit is broken so the

current stops flowing
Demo: Heating Effect of Electricity
• Take original temperature of water
• Turn on power source
• Observe temperature change
Chemical Effect of Electricity

Recharging
batteries

Hoffman Metal Electroplating

Voltameter
 Demo: Chemical Effect of Electricity
• Measure mass of the electrodes
• Set up as in diagram
• Leave for a few mins
• Measure mass of electrodes again
 Magnetic Effect of Electricity

In electric
Electromagnet Music Speakers
motors
 Demo: Magnetic Effect of Electricity
• Set up as in the 1st diagram, making sure the
compass arrow is parallel to the wires
• Close the switch and observe
How to wire a plug
 AC power: DC power:
Kilowatt
• Definition • Definition
hour
• Example • Example

Uses & Effects Power rating

• What is it?
of Electricity • Calculations

Magnetic effects Chemical effects Heating effects

of electricity of electricity of electricity

Circuit breaker Electroplating Electric fuse

 Chapter 43:
Uses and effects of electricity
DONE!!