Question

Vaibhav had gone to his uncle’s home in a foreign country where the domestic electric supply is direct current (DC). An electrician was working in his uncle’s kitchen, who was trying to find out the location of electric wiring in a particular wall for further electrical work. Failing to do so, the electrician recommended the breaking of a substantial portion of the kitchen wall. Vaibhav told his uncle that he could locate the position of current-carrying wires in the kitchen wall without breaking the kitchen wall. In order to do this, Vaibhav purchased a small device from the market and moved it slowly over the whole kitchen wall. After about 10 minutes, Vaibhav could locate the position of all the current-carrying wires in this kitchen wall. His uncle was happy that now only a small portion of the kitchen wall will have to be dismantled.

1. What was the small device purchased by Vaibhav?
2. What was noticed by Vaibhav when this device was moved slowly over the current-carrying wires embedded in the wall?
3. What name was given to the effect which helped Vaibhav to locate the concealed current-carrying wires in the wall?
4. Name the Scientist who discovered the above effect.
5. What values are shown by Vaibhav in this episode?

Answer 1

1. The small device purchased by Vaibhav was a magnetic compass (or a plotting compass).
2. Vaibhav noticed a deflection in the compass needle whenever the device passed directly over a current-carrying wire hidden inside the kitchen wall.
3. The effect is called the magnetic effect of electric current (which states that an electric current flowing through a wire produces a magnetic field around it).
4. The scientist who discovered this effect was Hans Christian Oersted.
5. Vaibhav showed values of problem-solving skills, presence of mind, helpfulness, and the practical application of his scientific knowledge to assist others in a real-life situation.