⚡ CBSE · Class 10 · Science · Chapter 13

Magnetic Effects of
Electric Current

Complete chapter resources for CBSE Class 10 Science — topic breakdown, key concepts, sample questions, previous year board questions, and instant AI question paper generation.

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Key Concepts — Chapter 13
  • Magnetic field around wire: Right-Hand Thumb Rule — thumb → current, curled fingers → field
  • Fleming's Left-Hand Rule: Force on current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field (motor)
  • Fleming's Right-Hand Rule: Direction of induced current in a moving conductor (generator)
  • Faraday's Law: Induced EMF ∝ rate of change of magnetic flux
  • AC frequency (India): 50 Hz — direction reverses 100 times per second
  • Solenoid field: Acts like a bar magnet; field inside is uniform and parallel
Chapter Overview

What this chapter covers

Chapter 13 explores the intimate relationship between electricity and magnetism. It begins with the magnetic field produced by a current-carrying conductor — a straight wire creates concentric circular field lines, while a solenoid produces a field nearly identical to that of a bar magnet. The direction of the field is determined using the Right-Hand Thumb Rule. An electromagnet, made by winding a coil around a soft-iron core, is a key application of this principle used in electric bells, cranes, and MRI machines.

The chapter then covers the force experienced by a current-carrying conductor placed in an external magnetic field — the principle behind the electric motor. Fleming's Left-Hand Rule gives the direction of this force. An electric motor converts electrical energy to mechanical energy using this force; its key components are an armature coil, magnets, a split-ring commutator, and brushes. The chapter also introduces electromagnetic induction (Faraday's Law), where relative motion between a coil and a magnet induces an EMF — the working principle of an electric generator.

Finally, the chapter distinguishes between Direct Current (DC) and Alternating Current (AC), explains the construction of an AC generator and a DC generator (dynamo), and discusses domestic electric circuits including the role of fuses and earthing in preventing electrical accidents. Board questions frequently ask students to compare motors and generators, apply Fleming's rules, or explain the role of a commutator or slip rings.

Topics

What's inside Chapter 13

As per NCERT Class 10 Science (CBSE syllabus)

Topic 1
Magnetic Field & Field Lines
Magnetic field due to a current-carrying straight wire and solenoid. Right-Hand Thumb Rule. Properties of magnetic field lines. Electromagnets and their applications.
Topic 2
Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor & Electric Motor
Force experienced by a conductor in a magnetic field. Fleming's Left-Hand Rule. Construction and working of a DC electric motor — armature, commutator, brushes, and energy conversion.
Topic 3
Electromagnetic Induction & Electric Generator
Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. Fleming's Right-Hand Rule for induced current direction. Construction and working of AC and DC generators. Distinction between slip rings and commutators.
Topic 4
Domestic Electric Circuits & Safety
AC vs DC, frequency of AC supply in India (50 Hz). Domestic wiring — live, neutral, and earth wires. Electric fuse, MCB, earthing, and short-circuit vs overloading.
Connections

How this chapter fits in

Useful for setting question difficulty and cross-chapter papers.

Builds on
Ch 12 · Electricity
Current, voltage, resistance, Ohm's Law, electric circuits
Class 9 · Magnetism (Force & Laws of Motion)
Bar magnets, poles, field lines, and magnetic properties of materials
Chapter 13 Magnetic
Effects
Leads to
Class 12 Physics · Electromagnetism
Biot-Savart law, Ampere's law, Faraday's law (quantitative), AC circuits
Class 12 Physics · Electromagnetic Induction
Self and mutual inductance, transformers, eddy currents
Board Blueprint

Marks & question-type breakdown

Typical pattern based on CBSE Class 10 Science board papers from the last five years.

Question type Marks Typical count What's usually tested
MCQ / Objective 1 1–2 Fleming's rule identification, AC/DC distinction, frequency of supply
Very Short Answer 2 1 State and apply Right-Hand Thumb Rule or Faraday's law; compare motor vs generator
Short Answer 3 1 Explain working of electric motor or generator with diagram; role of commutator/slip rings
Long Answer / Diagram-based 5 0–1 Labelled diagram + working of AC generator or domestic circuit safety
Total (approximate) 5–7 3–4 Weightage varies across paper sets and years
Sample Questions

8 sample questions — generated by MarksZen AI

Aligned to CBSE Class 10 Science Chapter 13. Covers all question types across Easy, Medium, and Hard difficulty.

Q1 Easy 1 mark MCQ
The frequency of alternating current (AC) supplied in India is: (a) 25 Hz (b) 50 Hz (c) 60 Hz (d) 100 Hz
Q2 Easy 2 marks Short Answer
State the Right-Hand Thumb Rule. Use it to determine the direction of the magnetic field at a point directly above a horizontal wire carrying current flowing from west to east.
Q3 Medium 2 marks Short Answer
Distinguish between an electric motor and an electric generator. Name the energy conversion that takes place in each.
Q4 Medium 3 marks Short Answer
Explain the role of the split-ring commutator in a DC electric motor. What would happen if the commutator were replaced with slip rings?
Q5 Medium 3 marks Short Answer
State Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. List three factors that affect the magnitude of the induced current in a coil.
Q6 Hard 4 marks Word Problem
A coil of wire is connected to a galvanometer. Describe what happens to the galvanometer reading when: (i) a bar magnet is pushed into the coil with its north pole entering first, (ii) the magnet is held stationary inside the coil, (iii) the magnet is pulled out of the coil, (iv) the same experiment is repeated at a higher speed. Name the phenomenon responsible for each observation.
Q7 Hard 5 marks Diagram-Based
Draw a neat labelled diagram of an AC generator. Describe its working principle. State two structural differences between an AC generator and a DC generator.
Q8 Hard 5 marks Case-Based
Rohit notices that when he accidentally touches a live wire, he gets a severe shock, but fuse does not blow. His electrician tells him the circuit lacks an earth wire. (i) What is the function of earthing in domestic circuits? (ii) Differentiate between a short circuit and overloading. (iii) Why is it safer to use an MCB instead of a fuse wire? (iv) Which wire in a domestic circuit is connected to the metallic body of an appliance for safety?
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Previous Year Questions

From CBSE board examinations

Actual questions from past Class 10 Science board papers — Magnetic Effects of Electric Current chapter.

Board 20222 marks
State Fleming's Left-Hand Rule. An electron enters a magnetic field at right angles to it, as shown in the figure. The direction of the electron's motion is from south to north. The direction of the magnetic field is from east to west. Find the direction of the force acting on the electron. (Delhi 2022)
Board 20233 marks
Draw the pattern of magnetic field lines around a current-carrying solenoid. Label the north and south poles of the solenoid. How does the magnetic field inside a solenoid compare to that outside it? (All India 2023)
Board 20205 marks
With the help of a labelled diagram, explain the construction and working of a simple electric motor. State the function of the split-ring commutator. Name one device that uses an electric motor. (CBSE 2020)
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FAQ

Questions teachers ask

How many marks does Magnetic Effects of Electric Current carry in the CBSE Class 10 board exam? +
Typically 5–7 marks spread across 3–4 questions — one 1-mark MCQ, one 2-mark short answer on Fleming's rules or Faraday's law, and one 3–5 mark long answer on the electric motor or generator. The chapter has featured in every CBSE Class 10 Science board paper for the past decade.
What is the difference between Fleming's Left-Hand Rule and Fleming's Right-Hand Rule? +
Fleming's Left-Hand Rule applies to electric motors — it gives the direction of force (motion) on a current-carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field. Fleming's Right-Hand Rule applies to electric generators — it gives the direction of induced current when a conductor moves in a magnetic field. In CBSE board exams, a common question asks students to identify which rule to apply and use it to determine the missing direction.
What is electromagnetic induction and how is it tested in board exams? +
Electromagnetic induction (Faraday's law) is the phenomenon where a changing magnetic field induces an EMF in a conductor. Board questions test this by asking students to state the factors that affect the magnitude of induced current (strength of magnet, speed of movement, number of turns in the coil) or by asking them to apply Fleming's Right-Hand Rule to determine the direction of induced current. These questions are typically worth 2–3 marks.
What is the difference between AC and DC, and which devices use each? +
Direct current (DC) flows in one fixed direction — batteries and DC generators produce DC. Alternating current (AC) periodically reverses direction — AC generators (alternators) produce AC, which is used for household power supply in India at 50 Hz. Board exams often ask students to distinguish between AC and DC, state the frequency of AC supply, or explain why AC is preferred for long-distance transmission (lower power loss at high voltage).
How do I generate a custom question paper for Magnetic Effects of Electric Current using MarksZen? +
Sign up for a free MarksZen account, choose CBSE Class 10 Science, select Chapter 13 (Magnetic Effects of Electric Current), set your preferred question-type mix (MCQ, short answer, diagram-based) and total marks — the AI generates a complete board-aligned paper with answer key in under 2 minutes, ready for PDF export.