Magnetic Effects of Electric Current — Class 10 Science (CBSE) explained

What you’ll learn

1. 1

   Lesson 1: Seeing and Representing Magnetic Fields

   5 min
   • An Electric Current Produces a Magnetic Effect
   • A Compass Needle Is a Small Bar Magnet
   • Iron Filings Reveal a Magnetic Field
   • Trace a Magnetic Field Line
   • Magnetic Field Lines Are Closed Curves
   • Read Strength and Check for Crossings
   • Reversing Current Reverses the Magnetic Field
2. 2

   Lesson 2: Magnetic Fields Around Wires and Coils

   6 min
   • The Field Around a Straight Wire
   • Current and Distance Affect Field Strength
   • Apply the Right-Hand Thumb Rule
   • Example: A Power Line Viewed from Either End
   • The Field Inside a Circular Loop
   • Several Turns Add Their Magnetic Effects
   • A Solenoid Has a Uniform Internal Field
   • A Solenoid Can Form an Electromagnet
3. 3

   Lesson 3: Force in a Magnetic Field

   5 min
   • A Magnetic Field Pushes a Current-Carrying Rod
   • What Controls the Direction of Force?
   • Use Fleming's Left-Hand Rule
   • Example: The Force on an Electron
   • Where Conductors and Magnetic Fields Are Used
   • Magnetism Has Uses in MedicineNot assessed
4. 4

   Lesson 4: Domestic Circuits, Safety and Practice

   5 min
   • Live and Neutral Bring Electricity into a Home
   • The Meter Board Feeds Separate Circuits
   • Earthing Protects Users of Metallic Appliances
   • Domestic Appliances Are Connected in Parallel
   • A Fuse Breaks a Circuit Carrying Excessive Current
   • Short-Circuiting and Other Causes of Overloading
   • Recap: Read, Predict, Explain and Practise

Key concepts

Magnetic field and filings

Iron filings are sprinkled around it, and the board is tapped gently. The filings arrange themselves in a curved pattern.

Tracing and direction

A compass gives another way to represent the field around a bar magnet.

Circular-coil turns

A circular coil contains several turns carrying current in the same direction. The field due to each turn adds to the others.

A solenoid can Form an electromagnet

The magnet so formed is called an electromagnet.

Force on a conductor

A current carrying conductor produces a magnetic field and can exert a force on a nearby magnet.

Textbook device applications

A current carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field experiences a force.

Mains, live and neutral

One wire, usually covered with red insulation, is called the live wire, or positive.

Fuse protection

An electric fuse is an important component of domestic circuits.

Exam focus

Board exam

CBSE assesses this chapter in the 2026-27 year-end board examination.

Syllabus

Magnetic effects of current: Magnetic field, field lines, field due to a current carrying conductor, field due to current carrying coil or solenoid; Force on current carrying conductor, Fleming's Left Hand Rule, Direct current. Alternating current: frequency of AC. Advantage of AC over DC. Domestic electric circuits.

Not assessed

These parts go beyond the 2026-27 syllabus and are taught for understanding only: Magnetism Has Uses in Medicine.

Exam note

Motor, Electromagnetic Induction and Electric Generator are formative-only this session.

Paper pattern

80 marks, 3 hours, 39 questions in three sections (A Biology, B Chemistry, C Physics); internal assessment 20. Units: I Chemical Substances 25, II World of Living 25, III Natural Phenomena 12, IV Effects of Current 13, V Natural Resources 5.

Question style

About 50% of board questions are competency-focused: case-based, source-based, integrated, data interpretation, situational and application-oriented.

Practice in the app

94 board-pattern questions with marking schemes: 27 multiple choice (1 mark), 13 assertion–reason (1 mark), 21 very short answer (2 marks), 17 short answer (3 marks), 4 long answer (5 marks) and 12 case-based (4 marks).

Sample questions with marking points

Board-pattern questions from the AI Lessons practice set for this chapter. The marking points show what an examiner looks for; full model answers are in the app.

1. Very short answer2 marks

   A horizontal straight conductor carries current from east to west. Predict the magnetic field circulation when viewed from the east end and from the west end. Explain why the two descriptions differ.

   Marking points

   • The circulation is clockwise when viewed from the east end.0.5
   • The circulation is anti-clockwise when viewed from the west end.0.5
   • Opposite viewing directions give opposite descriptions of the same field circulation, without any reversal of current.1

2. Short answer3 marks

   The north pole of a compass needle is repelled by end X of an unmarked bar magnet and attracted by its other end Y. Identify X and Y, giving the magnetic interaction used in each identification. Why can a compass needle be used for this test?

   Marking points

   • Identifies X as the north pole.0.5
   • Explains that like poles repel.0.5
   • Identifies Y as the south pole.0.5
   • Explains that unlike poles attract.0.5
   • States that a compass needle is a small bar magnet.1

3. Long answer5 marks

   (a) Describe how a compass can be used to trace one field line outside a bar magnet. (2) (b) State the field-line directions outside and inside the magnet, and explain why the complete line is a closed curve. (2) (c) Explain why two such field lines cannot cross. (1)

   Marking points

   • Place a compass near the north pole and mark both ends of its needle.0.5
   • Move the compass so that its south pole occupies the previous north-pole position.0.5
   • Repeat the process towards the magnet's south pole.0.5
   • Join the marked positions with a smooth curve.0.5
   • Outside the magnet, field lines run from north to south.0.5
   • Inside the magnet, field lines run from south to north.0.5
   • The internal return path completes the external path, making the field line a closed curve.1
   • A crossing would imply two directions at one point, which a compass needle cannot indicate.1

Frequently asked questions

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