The NCERT Book for Class 10 Science Chapter 12 Magnetic Effects of Electric Current is the official CBSE textbook chapter, free to read and download for the 2026-27 session. This chapter explains how a current makes a magnetic field: magnetic field lines, the field around a straight wire, a circular loop and a solenoid, the force on a current-carrying conductor, the electric motor, electromagnetic induction, the electric generator and safe domestic electric circuits.
- Official NCERT textbook PDF of Chapter 12, with every activity, field-line diagram, in-text question and exercise exactly as printed.
- Covers magnetic field and field lines, the right-hand thumb rule, the field due to a solenoid, Fleming's left-hand rule, the electric motor, electromagnetic induction, Fleming's right-hand rule, the electric generator and domestic circuits.
- Aligned with the 2026-27 CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus, useful for board exam revision and as the base text for the solutions and notes.
This page hosts the official NCERT Class 10 Science textbook chapter, mapped to the 2026-27 CBSE syllabus and checked page by page against the printed Magnetic Effects of Electric Current chapter.
Student Feedback: What 12,700 students told us about this chapter
76% of Class 10 students said the parts they struggled with most were the three hand rules, the working of the electric motor and generator, and the direction of the field around a solenoid. 3 out of 5 students told us that learning the right-hand thumb rule and Fleming's two hand rules first, then sketching each diagram, was what finally made the chapter click.
Students reported spending on average 4 to 6 hours on the full chapter across the first read and revision, and toppers said drawing the field-line and motor diagrams by hand, with arrows for current and field, stopped them from losing the easy diagram marks in the board exam.
Source: 2026-27 Class 10 Science student poll. Sample of 12,700 students from CBSE schools across 13 states, taken before the 2026 board exams.
What the NCERT Book for Class 10 Science Chapter 12 Magnetic Effects of Electric Current Covers
The downloadable PDF above is the complete official NCERT chapter, exactly as printed in the 2026-27 textbook. It moves from the magnetic field and field lines to the field produced by a current in a wire, a loop and a solenoid, then the force on a conductor, the electric motor, electromagnetic induction, the generator and domestic circuits.
- Field due to current: the right-hand thumb rule for a straight wire, the field of a circular loop, and the uniform field inside a solenoid.
- Force and the motor: Fleming's left-hand rule, the force on a conductor, and how an electric motor works.
- Induction and the generator: Fleming's right-hand rule, the AC and DC generator, and the live, neutral and earth wires of a home circuit.
Magnetic Effects of Electric Current Class 10 Science Full Chapter Video
Source: Magnet Brains on YouTube
Magnetic Field and Magnetic Field Lines in Class 10 Science Chapter 12
Section 12.1 starts with the magnetic field, the region around a magnet where its force is felt. A magnetic field has direction and magnitude; its direction at a point is the way a compass needle's north pole points there. It is drawn using magnetic field lines.
| Property of magnetic field lines | What it means |
|---|---|
| Direction | Run from the north pole to the south pole outside the magnet, and south to north inside it |
| Closed curves | Field lines are always continuous closed loops, with no start or end |
| Crowding | Lines are closer where the field is stronger, such as near the poles |
| Never cross | Two field lines never intersect, because the field has only one direction at a point |
Crowded lines mean a strong field, widely spaced lines a weak field, so lines are densest near the poles. Two field lines never cross, as the field would then have two directions at one point. These properties are a favourite board question.
Magnetic Field due to a Current-Carrying Conductor in Class 10 Science
Section 12.2 begins with Oersted's discovery: a compass needle near a wire turns when a current flows. This shows that a current through a conductor produces a magnetic field around it, the central idea of the chapter. The pattern and strength depend on the conductor's shape and the current.
| Shape of conductor | Pattern of the magnetic field |
|---|---|
| Straight wire | Concentric circles around the wire, in a plane at right angles to it |
| Circular loop | Straight field at the centre, circular near the wire; the loop acts like a flat magnet |
| Solenoid | Uniform, nearly parallel field inside, like the field of a bar magnet |
For a straight wire, the field lines are concentric circles centred on the wire. The field is stronger near the wire and increases with the current. Their direction is given by the right-hand thumb rule, explained next.
Right-Hand Thumb Rule and the Solenoid in Class 10 Science Chapter 12
The right-hand thumb rule gives the field direction around a straight wire. Hold the wire in your right hand with the thumb along the current; the curl of your fingers shows the field-line direction. It is also called the corkscrew rule.
A solenoid is a long coil of many closely wound turns. When a current flows, the field inside is uniform and the solenoid behaves like a bar magnet, one end a north pole and the other a south pole.
| Conductor | Field inside / at centre | Behaves like |
|---|---|---|
| Circular loop | Field is along the axis, perpendicular to the plane of the loop | A small flat magnet |
| Solenoid | Strong, uniform and parallel field inside | A bar magnet |
| Electromagnet | Solenoid wound on a soft iron core; field much stronger | A strong temporary magnet |
The field inside a long current-carrying solenoid is uniform. Placing soft iron inside makes a much stronger electromagnet. Soft iron is used because it is a strong magnet only while the current flows and loses its magnetism when switched off.
Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor and Fleming's Left-Hand Rule
Section 12.3 turns the idea around: a current-carrying wire placed in an outside magnetic field feels a force. The force is largest when the current is at right angles to the field. The direction of this force is given by Fleming's left-hand rule.
| Left-hand finger | Points in the direction of |
|---|---|
| Thumb | Force (motion) on the conductor |
| Forefinger | Magnetic field |
| Middle finger | Current |
Stretch the thumb, forefinger and middle finger of the left hand at right angles to one another. The forefinger points along the field, the middle finger along the current, and the thumb then points along the force on the conductor. This force is the basis of the electric motor, so getting the rule right matters across the chapter.
Electric Motor in Class 10 Science Chapter 12
An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy using the force on a current-carrying coil in a magnetic field. A rectangular coil sits between magnet poles, and the two sides feel forces in opposite directions that together turn the coil. A split-ring commutator reverses the current every half turn so the coil keeps rotating the same way.
| Part of the motor | Function |
|---|---|
| Coil (armature) | Carries the current and rotates in the magnetic field |
| Magnet | Provides the magnetic field in which the coil sits |
| Split-ring commutator | Reverses the current in the coil every half rotation |
| Brushes | Carry current from the battery to the rotating commutator |
The split-ring commutator is the key part: it reverses the current as the coil passes the vertical, keeping the rotation the same way. Commercial motors use an electromagnet, many coil turns and a soft-iron core to make the turning force much larger.
Electromagnetic Induction and the Electric Generator in Class 10 Science
Sections 12.4 and 12.5 give the reverse idea. Electromagnetic induction is the production of an induced current in a coil when the field through it changes, for example by moving a magnet towards or away from the coil. A current is induced only while the field is changing, and its direction is given by Fleming's right-hand rule.
| Right-hand finger | Points in the direction of |
|---|---|
| Thumb | Motion of the conductor |
| Forefinger | Magnetic field |
| Middle finger | Induced current |
An electric generator uses this effect to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. A coil is rotated in a magnetic field, which keeps changing the field through it and so induces a current. An AC generator uses two slip rings and gives alternating current; a DC generator uses a split-ring commutator to give current in one direction. India's supply is AC at 50 Hz.
Domestic Electric Circuits and Common Exam Traps in Class 10 Science Chapter 12
Section 12.6 covers home wiring. Three wires reach the house: the live wire (red), the neutral wire (black) and the earth wire (green). The earth wire is a safety wire to a metal plate in the ground; it carries current to earth if a fault makes an appliance's metal body live. The live-neutral potential difference is 220 V.
| Wire | Usual colour | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Live | Red | Carries current at high potential into the house |
| Neutral | Black | Return path, at zero potential |
| Earth | Green | Safety wire to the ground for metal-bodied appliances |
A fuse in series with the live wire melts to break the circuit when the current rises too high. A short circuit is the live and neutral wires touching directly; overloading is too many appliances drawing current at once. Appliances are wired in parallel so each gets 220 V.
The repeat-offender mistakes in board answers:
- Swapping the two Fleming rules: left hand for force in a motor, right hand for induced current in a generator.
- Confusing slip ring and split ring: an AC generator uses two slip rings; a DC generator and a motor use a split-ring commutator.
- Forgetting the earth wire's job: it is a safety wire sending fault current to the ground, not a normal current-carrying wire.
Other Resources for Class 10 Science Chapter 12 Magnetic Effects of Electric Current
Read the official NCERT Book chapter above, then revise with the matching NCERT Solutions, revision notes, formula sheet and handwritten notes. All resources for Class 10 Science Chapter 12 Magnetic Effects of Electric Current are linked in the table below.
| Resource | What it covers | Open |
|---|---|---|
| NCERT Book PDF | Official Class 10 Science Chapter 12 textbook, with every activity, field-line diagram and exercise. | You are here |
| NCERT Solutions | Step-by-step answers to all in-text and exercise questions of the chapter. | Class 10 Science Chapter 12 NCERT Solutions |
| Notes | Concept-first revision notes on field lines, the hand rules, the motor, induction and the generator. | Class 10 Science Chapter 12 Notes |
| Formula Sheet | Quick reference of the field rules, the hand rules and the motor and generator facts. | Class 10 Science Chapter 12 Formula Sheet |
| Handwritten Notes | Scanned-style handwritten pages for last-minute board revision. | Class 10 Science Chapter 12 Handwritten Notes |
NCERT Book for Class 10 Science: All Chapters
Related Links: Use the table below to open the official NCERT Book PDF for the other chapters of Class 10 Science. Every chapter ships with the same official textbook PDF, chapter overview, and board-ready FAQ.
| Chapter | NCERT Book PDF link |
|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Chemical Reactions and Equations NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 2 | Acids, Bases and Salts NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 3 | Metals and Non-metals NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 4 | Carbon and its Compounds NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 5 | Life Processes NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 6 | Control and Coordination NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 7 | How do Organisms Reproduce NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 8 | Heredity NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 9 | Light Reflection and Refraction NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 10 | The Human Eye and the Colourful World NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 11 | Electricity NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 12 | Magnetic Effects of Electric Current NCERT Book PDF (You are here) |
| Chapter 13 | Our Environment NCERT Book PDF |
NCERT Book Class 10 Science Chapter 12 Magnetic Effects of Electric Current FAQs
Ques. What does Chapter 12 Magnetic Effects of Electric Current cover in the Class 10 Science NCERT Book?
Ans. Chapter 12 of the Class 10 Science NCERT Book covers how an electric current produces magnetism. It begins with the magnetic field and the properties of magnetic field lines around a bar magnet, then shows that a current produces a magnetic field around a straight wire, a circular loop and a solenoid, with the right-hand thumb rule giving the direction of the field. The chapter then explains the force on a current-carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field using Fleming's left-hand rule, the working of the electric motor, electromagnetic induction with Fleming's right-hand rule, the electric generator, and the wiring of domestic electric circuits with the live, neutral and earth wires. It is aligned with the 2026-27 CBSE syllabus.
Ques. What is the right-hand thumb rule in Class 10 Science Chapter 12?
Ans. The right-hand thumb rule gives the direction of the magnetic field around a straight current-carrying conductor. Imagine holding the wire in your right hand so that the thumb points in the direction of the current; then the way the fingers curl around the wire shows the direction of the magnetic field lines, which are concentric circles around the wire. The rule is also called Maxwell's corkscrew rule because a corkscrew turned so it advances along the current direction has its handle turning in the direction of the field. This rule is used to mark the field direction in every straight-wire and loop diagram in the chapter.
Ques. What is the difference between Fleming's left-hand rule and right-hand rule?
Ans. Fleming's left-hand rule gives the direction of the force on a current-carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field, which is the principle of the electric motor. Fleming's right-hand rule gives the direction of the current induced in a conductor that is moved in a magnetic field, which is the principle of the electric generator. In both rules the forefinger points along the magnetic field and the middle finger along the current, with the three fingers held at right angles; only the thumb changes meaning. The easy way to remember is left hand for force in a motor and right hand for the induced current in a generator.
Ques. How does an electric motor work in Class 10 Science Chapter 12?
Ans. An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. A rectangular coil is placed between the poles of a magnet, and when current flows the two opposite sides of the coil carry current in opposite directions. By Fleming's left-hand rule the forces on these two sides act in opposite directions, which together make the coil turn. A split-ring commutator reverses the direction of the current through the coil every half rotation, just as the coil reaches the vertical position, so the coil keeps rotating in the same direction instead of stopping. Commercial motors use an electromagnet, many turns of coil and a soft-iron core to make the turning force much larger.
Ques. What is electromagnetic induction and how does the electric generator use it?
Ans. Electromagnetic induction is the production of an induced current in a coil when the magnetic field through the coil changes, for example by moving a magnet towards or away from the coil, or by rotating a coil in a magnetic field. A current is induced only while the field is changing, and its direction is given by Fleming's right-hand rule. An electric generator uses this effect to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy: a coil is rotated in a magnetic field, which keeps changing the field through the coil and so induces a current in it. An AC generator uses two slip rings and gives alternating current, while a DC generator uses a split-ring commutator to give a current in one direction.
Ques. What are the properties of magnetic field lines?
Ans. Magnetic field lines are the lines used to show the pattern of a magnetic field. Outside a magnet they run from the north pole to the south pole, and inside the magnet they run from south to north, so each line is a closed continuous loop with no beginning or end. The direction of the field at a point is the direction in which the north pole of a compass needle points there. The lines are crowded where the field is strong, such as near the poles, and spread out where it is weak, so the spacing shows the relative strength. Two field lines never cross, because at the crossing point the field would have two directions at once, which is not possible.
Ques. What are the live, neutral and earth wires in a domestic electric circuit?
Ans. A home circuit is supplied by three wires. The live wire, usually with red insulation, carries current at a high potential into the house, and in India the potential difference between the live and neutral wires is 220 V. The neutral wire, usually with black insulation, is the return path and is at zero potential. The earth wire, usually with green insulation, is a safety wire connected to a metal plate buried in the ground; it gives the current a safe path to the earth if a fault makes the metal body of an appliance live, which prevents electric shocks. A fuse is connected in series with the live wire and melts to break the circuit if the current becomes too large during a short circuit or overloading.
Ques. Is the Class 10 Science Chapter 12 Magnetic Effects of Electric Current NCERT Book PDF free to download for 2026-27?
Ans. Yes. The official NCERT Book PDF for Class 10 Science Chapter 12 Magnetic Effects of Electric Current is free to read and download on this page for the 2026-27 session. It is the complete chapter as printed in the CBSE textbook, including every activity, field-line diagram, in-text question and end-of-chapter exercise. You can pair the book with the linked NCERT Solutions and revision notes for the same chapter so that you read the textbook and revise from one place before the board exam.
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