HOTS Questions: Electricity and Circuits | Class 6: Additional Practice PDF Download

Q1: You have observed your father handling the electric equipment by wearing gloves. Why?
Ans: Your father wears gloves while handling electric equipment to ensure his safety. Electricity can flow through the body and cause harm or even be fatal. The gloves serve as insulation, preventing direct contact between his hands and the electric components. When wearing gloves made of insulating material, the flow of electricity from the equipment to his body is blocked. This significantly reduces the risk of electric shock. In situations where there might be exposed live wires or when working on electrical circuits, using gloves is an important safety measure to prevent accidents and ensure personal protection.

Q2: Your father applies tape over the joint of an electric wire. Why?
Ans: Applying tape over the joint of an electric wire is done to prevent the exposed wire ends from coming into contact with each other or with external objects. When electric wires are connected, they are often twisted or joined together using connectors. These connections need to be insulated to avoid short circuits or accidental contact, which could lead to electrical hazards, fires, or damage to the equipment. Electrical tape is used as an insulating material to cover and protect the joint, ensuring that the electrical current flows only through the intended path and minimizing the risk of unwanted interactions.

Q3: There will be three coloured wires normally used while connecting any electric equipment. What are those colours? Tell which coloured wire gives us an electric shock?
Ans: The three commonly used coloured wires for connecting electric equipment are:

• Red: The red wire is typically used as the live or active wire. It carries the electric current from the source (e.g., power outlet) to the appliance.
• Black or Blue: The black or blue wire is used as the neutral wire. It completes the circuit and carries the current back to the source after it has passed through the appliance.
• Green or Green/Yellow: The green or green/yellow wire is the earth wire, also known as the grounding wire. Its purpose is to provide a safe path for electric current to flow into the ground in case of a fault, such as a short circuit, reducing the risk of electric shock.

Q4: If you connect a battery cell to the bulb through a wooden stick, the bulb will not glow. Why?
Ans: The reason the bulb does not glow when connected to a battery cell through a wooden stick is due to the fact that wood is not a good conductor of electricity. In order for an electric circuit to be completed and for the bulb to light up, there needs to be a continuous path for the flow of electric current. Materials like metals, which have free electrons that can move easily, are good conductors of electricity. However, wood lacks these free electrons and does not allow the electric current to flow through it. As a result, the circuit remains incomplete and the bulb does not receive the necessary electric current to emit light.

Q5: Do not handle the electric appliances when your hands are wet. Why?
Ans: Handling electric appliances with wet hands is unsafe because water is a good conductor of electricity. When hands are wet, they become more conductive, meaning they can easily allow electric current to flow through them. If an individual touches an electric appliance with wet hands, the electricity can take a path through the body, potentially causing electric shock. Electric shock can be dangerous and even fatal in some cases. Therefore, it's crucial to keep hands dry when handling electrical devices to prevent the risk of electric shock and ensure personal safety.

Q6: How is an electric circuit formed? Explain with the help of a simple diagram.
Ans: An electric circuit is formed when various electrical components like bulbs, switches, and wires are connected in a closed loop. This allows the flow of electric current. In a circuit, there is a source of electricity (like a battery) that provides the energy for the current to flow. Here's a simple diagram to illustrate:
[Diagram: Battery (+) → Switch → Bulb → Battery (-)]

Q7: What is an open circuit? Provide an example of an open circuit and explain why the bulb doesn't light up.
Ans: An open circuit is a circuit that is not complete or connected. In an open circuit, the flow of electric current is interrupted because there is a gap or break in the path. For example, if the wire connecting the bulb to the battery is disconnected, it forms an open circuit. In this case, the bulb doesn't light up because the current cannot flow through the gap.

Q8: State the difference between a conductor and an insulator. Give two examples of each.
Ans:

• Conductor: A conductor is a material that allows electric current to flow through it easily. It has free electrons that can move. Examples: Copper, aluminum.
• Insulator: An insulator is a material that does not allow electric current to flow through it easily. It doesn't have many free electrons for current to move. Examples: Rubber, plastic.

Q9: Why is it important to insulate electrical wires? Explain with an example.
Ans: Insulating electrical wires is important to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of people. When wires are not insulated, they can come in contact with each other or with conductive materials, leading to short circuits and electric shocks. For instance, if the insulation of a wire carrying current is damaged and it touches a metal surface, it can create a dangerous situation where current flows where it's not supposed to, potentially causing harm.

Q10: What role does a switch play in an electric circuit? How does it control the flow of electricity?
Ans: A switch is a device used to control the flow of electricity in an electric circuit. It can either complete or break the circuit. When the switch is in the ON position, it completes the circuit, allowing the current to flow and devices to work. When the switch is in the OFF position, it breaks the circuit, stopping the flow of current and turning off the devices. It gives us the ability to control when and where electricity flows in a circuit, which helps save energy and prevents devices from running when not needed.