Experiment: Demonstrating the effects of short-circuits and overloads

Aim: To demonstrate the effect of a short circuit/overloading of a circuit on a fuse

Materials: 6 or 12 V battery, copper wires, fuse wire/steel wool strand, switch, car headlamp, torch bulb, switch, 2 nails, wooden block

Method

1. Set up with circuit with a torch bulb in the circuit
2. Close the switch and observe the fuse wire
3. Replace the bulb in the circuit with a car hand-lamp which draws more current than the torch bulb
4. Close the switch and observer the fuse
5. Open the switch and replace the fuse wire
6. Take a wire and replace the bulb with it
7. Close the switch and observe the fuse

Results and Observations

• The fuse wire remains intact when a torch bulb is used
• The fuse blows when the torch bulb is replaced with a car head lamp
• The fuse also blows when a wire is used to short circuit the circuit

Conclusion

• Fuses can protect a circuit from overloading/short circuits by blowing and breaking the circuit

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