Page 149 - Science Class 08
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charge  is  more  on  an  object  the  leaves  will                 ELECTRIC CURRENT
              open more. If the charge is less, then the leaves     Electric  current  is  one  of  the  most  basic
              will open less.                                       concepts  that  exists  within  electrical  and

              Flows of Charges— Conductors and Insulators           electronic  science—  electric  current  is  at  the

              When  electrons  are  deposited  on  certain          core of the science of electricity.
              materials,  they  can  make  their  way  freely  in   Whether  it  is  an  electrical  heater,  a  large
              and  but  among  atoms,  In  certain  other           electrical  grid  system,  a  mobile  phone,
              substances  they  cannot  move  freely.  They         computer,  remote  sensor  node  or  whatever,
              remain more or less at the some point on the          the concept of electrical current is central to its
              material  at  which  they  were  deposited.           opera on.
              Substances that allow electrons to pass freely        However,  current  as  such  cannot  normally  be
              through them are called conductors.                   seen,  although  its  effects  can  be  seen,  heard

              For  example,  copper,  silver,  iron,  etc.  There   and  felt  all  the   me  and  as  a  result  it  is
              are  certain  substances  that  do  not  allow        some mes  difficult  to  gain  a  view  of  what  it
              electrons  to  pass  through  them,  these  are       really is.
              called insulators.                                    When  a  charged  electroscope  is  connected  to

              For example rubber, plas c, wood, etc:                an  uncharged  electroscope  through  a  copper
                                                                    wire,  charge  flows  from  the  charged  to  the
                                                                    uncharged  electroscope.  This  clearly  shows
               Aim  :  To  detect  whether  an  object  is          how electrons can flow from one charged body
               conductor or insulator.                              to  another  uncharged  body.  This  flow  of
               Method:                                              electrons is referred to as electric current. This
               Take two electroscopes. Charge the leaves of         electric  current  is  used  in  every  household,
               one  of  them  using  an  ebonite  rod.  Now,        industries and other ins tu ons. You will read
               connect  the  discs  of  the  two  electroscopes     more  about  how  electricity  is  produced  and
               using a copper wire. Remember, do not touch          distributed in higher classes.
               the disc or copper wire with your hand.                                 LIGHTNING
               You will no ce that the leaves of the second         Induc on  is  the  main  cause  behind  many
               electroscope will also diverge. The divergence       natural phenomena. One of the best known of
               of the leaves of the first electroscope reduces.
                                                                    these is the thunderstorm.
               This shows that some of the charge has been
               transferred  from  the  first  to  the  second        Benjamin Franklin first proved that clouds build
               electroscope, through the copper wire. Now,          up  charge  during  a  thunderstorm.  He  showed
               repeat the experiment and connect the disc of        that lightning that we see in the sky is a very
               the  electroscope  using  a  plas c  scale.  The     heavy flow of charge between clouds.
               leaves  of  the  second  electroscope  do  not       How does Lightning Occur?
               diverge  at  all.  No  charge  is  therefore,
               transferred  from  the  first  to  the  second        During a hot and humid day, air rises us rapidly.
               electroscope. Thus, we can say that plas c is        As the warm and damp air rushes upward, it is
               an insulator.                                        coilled by expansion and the water vapour in it



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