Class 10 Physics Important Questions – Magnetic Effects of Electric Current (CBSE Board)

Conceptual Recapitulation

Key concepts include:

Magnetic fields generated by current-carrying conductors.
Properties of magnetic field lines.
Right-hand thumb rule for field orientation.
Force on conductors in magnetic fields.
Fleming’s Left-Hand Rule to determine motion.
Electric motor: design and operation.
Electromagnetic induction and Faraday’s findings.
Fleming’s Right-Hand Rule for induced current.
Electric generator: AC and DC distinction.
Household electric circuits with fuses, earthing, and MCBs.

Fundamental Definitions

Magnetic Field: The region where magnetic effects can be observed.
Magnetic Field Lines: Curves showing the direction of the magnetic field.
Right-Hand Thumb Rule: Current direction is shown by the thumb, curled fingers show field direction.
Electromagnetic Induction: EMF generated by changing magnetic flux.
Fleming’s Left-Hand Rule: Predicts the direction of force on a conductor in a magnetic field.
Fleming’s Right-Hand Rule: Predicts induced current direction when a conductor moves in a magnetic field.

Representative Questions

Very Short Answer (1 Mark)

Define magnetic field.
State the SI unit of magnetic flux density.
What is the orientation of field lines inside a bar magnet?
State Fleming’s Left-Hand Rule.
What happens to field intensity if current is doubled?

Short Answer (2–3 Marks)

Differentiate between a bar magnet and an electromagnet.
Why are electric motors essential in households?
State the principle of an electric generator.
Explain electromagnetic induction with Faraday’s experiment.
Why do magnetic field lines never intersect?

Long Answer (5 Marks)

Explain electric motor design and working with diagram.
Derive the rule for force on a conductor in a magnetic field.
Draw and explain a domestic circuit with safety devices.
Describe the construction and working of an electric generator.
Compare solenoidal and bar magnet field lines.

Higher Order Thinking Skills

Why does a compass needle deflect near a current-carrying wire?
Use the right-hand thumb rule to find field orientation for a given wire.
How can solenoidal field strength be increased?
Why are electric motors called the backbone of industries?
Analyze why a conductor experiences force in a magnetic field.

Strategic Preparatory Guidance

Practice drawing neat, labeled diagrams.
Memorize key rules and laws.
Solve numericals on force, field strength, and induction.
Write structured answers with points and diagrams.
Revise NCERT examples thoroughly.
Attempt past year CBSE papers.
Form peer groups for concept discussions.

COMPETENCY – DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

1. Draw magnetic field lines around a bar magnet. 2M

2. List the properties of magnetic lines of force. (CBSE 2019, 2025) 3M

3. i) What is the direction of magnetic field lines outside a bar-magnet? 2M

ii) What is indicated by crowding of magnetic lines in a given region?

4. Why don’t two magnetic lines of force intersect each other? (CBSE 2021, 2025) 2M

5. a) List two factors on which the magnitude of magnetic field produced by a current carrying straight conductor depends. (CBSE 2023)

b) State the rule which determines the direction of magnetic field in the above case.

c) Draw the pattern of magnetic field lines produced in this case.

6. a) What is a solenoid? (CBSE 2022, 2025)

b) Draw field lines of the magnetic field through and around a current carrying solenoid.

c) Compare the magnetic behaviour of a straight solenoid with that of a bar magnet.

d) On what factors does the strength of the magnetic field produced by a current carrying solenoid depend?

7. What is an electromagnet? On what factors does the strength of an electromagnet depend? (CBSE 2021) – 3 Marks

8. Draw a circuit diagram to show how a soft iron piece can be transformed into an electromagnet. (CBSE 2020, 2025) – 2 Marks

9. State Fleming’s Left-Hand Rule. (CBSE 2020, 2025) – 2 Marks

10. Name two safety measures commonly used in electric circuits and appliances. – 1 Mark

11. Along with live wire and neutral wire, a third wire is also used in domestic electric wiring. What name is given to this third wire? – 1 Mark

12. List the colours of the three wires in the cable connected to the plug of an electric iron. – 1 Mark

13. When does an electric short circuit occur? – 1 Mark

14. What precaution should be taken to avoid the overloading of domestic electric circuits? (CBSE 2025) – 3 Marks

15. What is the function of an earth wire? Why is it necessary to earth metallic appliances? (CBSE 2020, 2025) – 3 Marks

16. What is an electric fuse? What material is selected for fuse wire? (CBSE 2021) – 2 Marks

17. Under what condition does a current-carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field experience maximum force? On what other factors does the magnitude of this force depend? Name and state the rule used to determine the direction of this force. – 3 Marks

18. What is meant by rating of a fuse? Why should a fuse of proper rating be used? – 3 Marks
OR Why should a fuse with defined rating for an electric circuit not be replaced by one with a larger rating?

COMPETENCY – APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND CONCEPT

1. How can it be shown with the help of an activity that a magnetic field is produced around a current-carrying wire? – 3 Marks
OR Describe with the help of a diagram an activity to show that a current-carrying wire behaves like a magnet.

2. What change in the deflection of the compass needle placed near a current-carrying conductor shall be observed if: – 4 Marks
a) The current through the conductor is increased.
b) The direction of current in the conductor is reversed.
c) The compass is moved away from the conductor.

3. Consider a circular loop of wire lying in the plane of the table. Let the current pass through the loop clockwise. Apply the Right-Hand Thumb Rule to state the direction of the magnetic field inside and outside the loop. (CBSE 2019, 2023) – 4 Marks

4a. Draw the magnetic field lines of the field produced by a current-carrying circular loop. Explain with reason whether the field will be stronger at the centre of the loop or near the circumference. – 3 Marks
4b. Name and state the rule to find out the direction of magnetic field inside and around the loop. – 2 Marks

5. A student while studying the force experienced by a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field records the following observations: – 3 Marks
i) The force increases as the current increases.
ii) The force decreases as the strength of the magnetic field is increased.

6. Imagine that you are sitting in a chamber with your back to one wall. An electron beam, moving horizontally from back wall towards the front wall, is deflected by a strong magnetic field to your right side. What is the direction of magnetic field? – 3 Marks

7a. A straight cylindrical conductor is suspended with its axis perpendicular to the magnetic field of a horse-shoe magnet. The conductor gets displaced towards the left when a current is passed through it. What will happen to the displacement of the conductor if: – 5 Marks

The current through it is increased?
The horse-shoe magnet is replaced by a stronger one?
The direction of current is reversed?
7b. Name and state the rule for determining the direction of force on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field.

8. Why is an alternating current considered to be advantageous over direct current for long-range transmission of electric energy? – 2 Marks

9. (CBSE 2024) – 5 Marks
i) The magnetic field in a region is represented by equidistant parallel lines. What do such lines indicate?
ii) An electron beam moving horizontally from back wall to front wall is deflected to your right. What is the direction of the magnetic field?
iii) State the rule used to determine the direction.

10i. Using the given experimental set-up, how can it be shown that: – 3 Marks
a) A force is exerted on a current-carrying conductor AB when placed in a magnetic field.
b) The direction of force can be reversed in two ways.
10ii. When will the magnitude of the force be highest?
10iii. State Fleming’s Left-Hand Rule.

11i. How does an electric fuse prevent damage due to short-circuiting or overloading? (CBSE 2024) – 3 Marks
11ii. How is the current used in household supply different from that of dry cells?
11iii. Why is AC considered advantageous over DC for distant power transmission?

12. What should be the current rating of the electric circuit (220 V) so that an electric iron of 1 kW can be operated? (CBSE 2025) – 1 Mark

13. A positively charged particle (alpha particle) projected towards west is deflected towards north by a magnetic field. State the direction of the magnetic field. Which rule did you apply? (CBSE 2022) – 3 Marks

COMPETENCY – FORMULATE, ANALYZE, EVALUATE AND CREATE

1. Consider a rectangular cardboard with two holes P and Q through which a current-carrying circular loop passes. (CBSE 2025) – 5 Marks
a) Draw the diagram and three magnetic field lines through points 1 (near P), 2 (centre), and 3 (near Q).
b) List two factors on which the intensity of the magnetic field at the centre of the loop depends.
c) Name the rule applied to determine the direction of the magnetic field.

2. Draw the pattern of magnetic field lines for two parallel straight conductors carrying equal currents in opposite directions. Show the field direction at point O, equidistant from both. (CBSE 2025) – 2 Marks

3a. What is an electromagnet? List any two uses. (CBSE 2020) – 4 Marks
3b. Draw a labelled diagram to show how an electromagnet is made.
3c. State the purpose of a soft iron core in an electromagnet.
3d. List two ways to increase the strength of an electromagnet.

4a. Explain, using the pattern of magnetic field lines, the distribution of field due to a current-carrying circular loop. – 3 Marks
4b. Why is the field of a coil with n turns, n times that of a single turn? – 2 Marks

5. How does a solenoid behave like a magnet? Can you determine its poles with the help of a bar magnet? – 4 Marks

6. Draw the magnetic field produced around a vertical current-carrying straight conductor through a horizontal cardboard. Mark current direction and field lines. Name the rule used. (CBSE 2019, 2022, 2023, 2025) – 5 Marks

7. State the potential difference between live and neutral wires in India. – 1 Mark

8. Why does a current-carrying conductor experience a force in a magnetic field? – 3 Marks

9. A circular current loop carries anticlockwise current. What polarity does this face of the coil exhibit? – 1 Mark

Conclusion

This collection of Class 10 Magnetic Effects of Electric Current important questions will help students strengthen their preparation for board exams. By practicing these competency-based questions, students can gain confidence, improve time management, and master one of the most significant Physics chapters for both exams and higher studies.

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