PHYSICS – Dangers of electricity

LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
Core Supplement
• State the hazards of: – damaged
insulation – overheating of cables –
damp conditions
• State that a fuse protects a circuit
• Explain the use of fuses and circuit
breakers and choose appropriate fuse
ratings and circuit-breaker settings
• Explain the benefits of earthing metal
cases
 In the UK,
domestic
electricity is
supplied at a
voltage of
230V (+/- 6%)

http://ownersrepny.com/

Mains
electricity can
be dangerous –
possible
hazards?
 In the UK,
domestic
electricity is
Old, frayed wiring might supplied at a
mean strands of wire with a voltage of
higher resistance at one 230V (+/- 6%)
point. A heating effect
may be enough to melt the
insulation and cause a fire.

http://ownersrepny.com/

Mains
electricity can
be dangerous –
possible
hazards?
 In the UK,
domestic
electricity is
Old, frayed wiring might supplied at a
mean strands of wire with a voltage of
higher resistance at one 230V (+/- 6%)
point. A heating effect
may be enough to melt the
insulation and cause a fire.

http://ownersrepny.com/
Extension leads may
overheat if used when Mains
coiled up. The current electricity can
flowing will warm the wire, be dangerous –
but the tight bundle means possible
that the heat has less hazards?
room to escape.
 In the UK,
domestic
electricity is
Old, frayed wiring might supplied at a If water leaks into a plug
mean strands of wire with a voltage of or socket there is a risk of
higher resistance at one 230V (+/- 6%) someone getting
point. A heating effect electrocuted as water will
may be enough to melt the conduct the current.
insulation and cause a fire.

http://ownersrepny.com/
Extension leads may
overheat if used when Mains
coiled up. The current electricity can
flowing will warm the wire, be dangerous –
but the tight bundle means possible
that the heat has less hazards?
room to escape.
 In the UK,
domestic
electricity is
Old, frayed wiring might supplied at a If water leaks into a plug
mean strands of wire with a voltage of or socket there is a risk of
higher resistance at one 230V (+/- 6%) someone getting
point. A heating effect electrocuted as water will
may be enough to melt the conduct the current.
insulation and cause a fire.

http://ownersrepny.com/
Extension leads may When using a lawnmower of
overheat if used when Mains electric hedgetrimmer
coiled up. The current electricity can there is always the danger
flowing will warm the wire, be dangerous – of cutting through the
but the tight bundle means possible cable. A plug-in RCD
that the heat has less hazards? should always be used to
room to escape. avoid electrocution.
Mains electricity
Mains electricity
Plastic insulated casing.
Mains electricity
Plastic insulated casing.

Neutral wire
(blue)
Mains electricity
Plastic insulated casing.

Neutral wire
(blue)

Earth wire
(yellow and
green). Stops
metal appliances
becoming live if
there is a fault.
Mains electricity
Plastic insulated casing.

Neutral wire
(blue)

Earth wire
(yellow and
green). Stops
metal appliances
Live wire (brown) – goes becoming live if
alternately negative and there is a fault.
positive, making current flow
backwards and forwards
through the circuit.
Mains electricity
Plastic insulated casing.

Neutral wire
(blue)

Earth wire
(yellow and
Fuse – always green). Stops
connected to the metal appliances
live wire. If the Live wire (brown) – goes becoming live if
current gets too alternately negative and there is a fault.
high the fuse will positive, making current flow
‘blow’ and break backwards and forwards
the circuit. through the circuit.
Mains electricity
Plastic insulated casing.

Cable grip – keeps

Neutral wire
the wires inside
(blue)
the plug securely.

Earth wire
(yellow and
Fuse – always green). Stops
connected to the metal appliances
live wire. If the Live wire (brown) – goes becoming live if
current gets too alternately negative and there is a fault.
high the fuse will positive, making current flow
‘blow’ and break backwards and forwards
the circuit. through the circuit.
Mains electricity
Plastic insulated casing.
Plastic wire outer
covering

Cable grip – keeps

Neutral wire
the wires inside
(blue)
the plug securely.

Earth wire
(yellow and
Fuse – always green). Stops
connected to the metal appliances
live wire. If the Live wire (brown) – goes becoming live if
current gets too alternately negative and there is a fault.
high the fuse will positive, making current flow
‘blow’ and break backwards and forwards
the circuit. through the circuit.
Mains electricity

In some countries the plug may have

only two pins (live and neutral). The
earth connection is made by two
metal contacts at the edge
Mains electricity

In some countries the plug may have

only two pins (live and neutral). The
earth connection is made by two
metal contacts at the edge

Some appliances, for example radios,

do not have an earth wire. This is
because their outer case is made of
plastic rather than metal.
The plastic acts as an extra layer of
insulation around the wires.
Mains electricity

Mains current is 230V AC (in the

UK). AC means alternating current.
The current flows backwards and
forwards 50 times per second. We
say that it has a frequency of 50
hertz (50Hz).

Some appliances, for example radios,

do not have an earth wire. This is
because their outer case is made of
plastic rather than metal.
The plastic acts as an extra layer of
insulation around the wires.
Mains electricity

Fuses
Mains electricity

Fuses

How does the fuse and earth wire

working together prevent shocks?
Mains electricity Fuses
1. If a fault develops
(eg. Live touches the
earthed metal case)
then a big current
flows in through the
live, through the case
and out down the earth
wire
Mains electricity Fuses
1. If a fault develops
(eg. Live touches the
earthed metal case)
then a big current
flows in through the
live, through the case
and out down the
earth wire

2. This surge in current

blows the fuse (or
trips the circuit
breaker), which cuts
off the live supply
Mains electricity Fuses
1. If a fault develops
(eg. Live touches the
earthed metal case)
then a big current
flows in through the
live, through the case
and out down the
earth wire

3. This isolates the

whole appliance,
2. This surge in current
making it impossible to
blows the fuse (or
get an electric shock
trips the circuit
from the case. It also
breaker), which cuts
prevents fire risk from
off the live supply
the heating effect of a
large current.
Mains electricity Fuses
1. If a fault develops
(eg. Live touches the
4. Fuses should be
earthed metal case)
rated as near as
then a big current
possible but just
flows in through the
higher than the normal
live, through the case
operating current.
and out down the
earth wire

3. This isolates the

whole appliance,
2. This surge in current
making it impossible to
blows the fuse (or
get an electric shock
trips the circuit
from the case. It also
breaker), which cuts
prevents fire risk from
off the live supply
the heating effect of a
large current.
Mains electricity Fuses

What
fuse to
use?
Mains electricity Fuses

What
fuse to
use?
3A, 5A, 13A
Mains electricity Fuses

What
fuse to
use?
3A, 5A, 13A

WARNING: if the
wrong fuse is used then
if a fault develops, the
circuit might overheat
and catch fire without
the fuse blowing.
Mains electricity Fuses

What
fuse to
use?
3A, 5A, 13A
To work out the fuse required we
need to know the power rating of an
appliance and the voltage rating. We
can then work out the current used by
WARNING: if the the appliance using this equation:
wrong fuse is used then
if a fault develops, the
circuit might overheat
and catch fire without
I = P/V
the fuse blowing.
Mains electricity Fuses

What
fuse to
use?
3A, 5A, 13A

Eg. Hair dryer.

Power rating =
1.1kW
Voltage rating
= 230V
Mains electricity Fuses

What
fuse to
use?
3A, 5A, 13A
I = P/V

I = 1100 / 230
Eg. Hair dryer.
Power rating = I = 4.8A
1.1kW
Voltage rating Use the fuse rated a little
= 230V higher than the normal current.

In this case, use a 5A fuse.

Mains electricity Fuses

What
fuse to
use?
3A, 5A, 13A

Eg. Television.
Power rating =
150W
Voltage rating
= 230V
Mains electricity Fuses

What
fuse to
use?
3A, 5A, 13A
I = P/V

I = 150 / 230
Eg. Television.
Power rating = I = 0.7A
150W
Voltage rating Use the fuse rated a little
= 230V higher than the normal current.

In this case, use a 3A fuse.

Mains electricity Fuses

The fuse contains a piece of

wire that melts easily. If the
current going through the fuse
is too great, the wire heats up
until it melts and breaks the
circuit. The fuse then has to
be replaced.
Mains electricity
The fuse contains a piece of
wire that melts easily. If the
current going through the fuse
is too great, the wire heats up
until it melts and breaks the
circuit. The fuse then has to
be replaced.
Fuses
A circuit breaker does the
same job as a fuse, but it
works in a different way.
Circuit breakers are automatic
switches that ‘trip’ (turn off)
when the current rises above a
specific value. The circuit
breaker can be reset by
pressing a button (no need to
replace).
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=MCB
 LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
Core Supplement
• State the hazards of: – damaged
insulation – overheating of cables –
damp conditions
• State that a fuse protects a circuit
• Explain the use of fuses and circuit
breakers and choose appropriate fuse
ratings and circuit-breaker settings
• Explain the benefits of earthing metal
cases
PHYSICS – Dangers of electricity