Magnetic Effects of Electric Current — Class 10 MCQs with Answers

Magnetic Effects of Electric Current — important questions & MCQs with answers (Class 10 Science (Physics))

14 solved questions from this chapter's difficulty levels, each with its answer and explanation. The other 76 are timed and scored when you sign in.

1. Q1Easy

   First scientist to observe magnetic effect of current:

   A.Faraday

   B.Maxwell

   C.Oersted✓ Correct

   D.Ampere

   Answer: C. Oersted

   Explanation: Hans Oersted (1820) noticed deflection of compass near current-carrying wire.

2. Q2Easy

   Magnetic field lines:

   A.Go only outward

   B.Cross each other

   C.Run from N to S outside magnet, S to N inside✓ Correct

   D.Are random

   Answer: C. Run from N to S outside magnet, S to N inside

   Explanation: A magnet's field lines form closed loops: they run from the north pole to the south pole outside the magnet and continue from south back to north inside it, never crossing or stopping midway.

3. Q3Easy

   Oersted discovered that a current-carrying wire:

   A.Stops conducting

   B.Becomes hot

   C.Loses charge

   D.Produces a magnetic field around it✓ Correct

   Answer: D. Produces a magnetic field around it

   Explanation: Oersted placed a compass near a current-carrying wire and saw the needle deflect, showing the current itself sets up a magnetic field around the wire — the first evidence linking electricity and magnetism.

4. Q4Easy

   Direction of magnetic field around a straight current-carrying conductor is given by:

   A.Right-hand thumb rule✓ Correct

   B.Left-hand rule

   C.Fleming's right-hand rule

   D.Pythagoras' rule

   Answer: A. Right-hand thumb rule

   Explanation: Grip the wire with the right hand, thumb pointing along the current; the curled fingers show the field's direction around a straight conductor — this is the right-hand thumb rule, not Fleming's rule.

5. Q5Easy

   Magnetic field of a solenoid is similar to that of:

   A.Earth

   B.Bar magnet✓ Correct

   C.Wire

   D.Single loop

   Answer: B. Bar magnet

   Explanation: A current-carrying solenoid produces parallel field lines inside and an external pattern just like a bar magnet, with one end behaving as north and the other as south.

6. Q6Easy

   A current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field experiences:

   A.No effect

   B.A force✓ Correct

   C.Increases resistance

   D.Decreases voltage

   Answer: B. A force

   Explanation: The moving charges making up the current each feel a sideways magnetic force in the external field, and these add up to a net force on the whole conductor, not a change in resistance or voltage.

7. Q7Medium

   Magnetic field inside a long solenoid is:

   A.Zero

   B.Circular

   C.Radial

   D.Uniform and strong✓ Correct

   Answer: D. Uniform and strong

   Explanation: Inside a long solenoid the fields from each closely wound turn add up along the axis, giving a strong, uniform field parallel to the axis — it weakens and curves only near the open ends.

8. Q8Medium

   Earth's magnetic field at the poles is:

   A.Vertical✓ Correct

   B.Horizontal

   C.Zero

   D.Random

   Answer: A. Vertical

   Explanation: Earth's field lines run roughly horizontal near the equator but converge steeply into the ground near the magnetic poles, so the field there is nearly vertical rather than horizontal.

9. Q9Medium

   Current flows northward in a wire. Magnetic field directly above is:

   A.West

   B.East✓ Correct

   C.Up

   D.Down

   Answer: B. East

   Explanation: By the right-hand thumb rule, point the thumb north along the current and the curled fingers give the field's direction; directly above the wire that curl points east, not west or straight up.

10. Q10Medium

    To make iron core of solenoid into permanent magnet, current flows in:

    A.Anticlockwise when viewed from end ⇒ that end is N✓ Correct

    B.Clockwise ⇒ N

    C.Either ⇒ N

    D.No effect

    Answer: A. Anticlockwise when viewed from end ⇒ that end is N

    Explanation: Curl the right-hand fingers in the direction the current flows around the solenoid's turns; the thumb points to the north pole, the end where the current appears to flow anticlockwise.

11. Q11Medium

    In Fleming's left-hand rule, forefinger represents:

    A.Force F

    B.Current I

    C.Magnetic field B✓ Correct

    D.Charge

    Answer: C. Magnetic field B

    Explanation: In Fleming's left-hand rule the Forefinger points along the magnetic Field (thumb = thrust/force, centre finger = current).

12. Q12Hard

    Fleming's left-hand rule is used in:

    A.Electric motors (force on current-carrying conductor)✓ Correct

    B.Generators

    C.Heaters

    D.Batteries

    Answer: A. Electric motors (force on current-carrying conductor)

    Explanation: Fleming's left-hand rule (forefinger=field, middle finger=current, thumb=force) gives the force direction on a current-carrying conductor — motors use it, generators use the right-hand version.

13. Q13Hard

    Looking at a current loop, if current flows anticlockwise (CCW), it acts as:

    A.North pole✓ Correct

    B.South pole

    C.Neutral

    D.Either

    Answer: A. North pole

    Explanation: By the clock rule, a face where the current appears anticlockwise acts as a North pole (clockwise would be South).

14. Q14Hard

    Front face of a solenoid acts as N pole if current at that face flows:

    A.Stops

    B.Clockwise

    C.Anticlockwise✓ Correct

    D.Both

    Answer: C. Anticlockwise

    Explanation: Viewed from outside, a solenoid face carrying anticlockwise current is a North pole (the clock rule for poles).

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