When electric current flows in a circuit, it produces various effects some of them are
- Magnetic Effect
- Luminous Effect
- Heating Effect
- Chemical Effect
Magnetic Effect : When a current flows through a conductor it affects the magnetic materials near it or surrounding it.
Luminous Effects : Glow discharge is a special form of gas discharge. It takes place spontaneously at low pressures and with a relatively small current density and is accompanied by conspicuous luminous effects.
Heating Effect : In every electric circuit there is a resistance which opposes the flow of current.In order to overcome this resistance and for flow of current, an energy is expended. That expended energy appears as heat, causing the heating effect.
The expended power is expressed as
P=I^2 R
Where I = Current
R = Resistance.
Chemical Effects : When an electric current passes through a liquid it may cause a chemical reaction to occur in the liquid-electrolysis. The liquid is called the electrolyte. The metal plates placed in the liquid are called the electrodes (+ plate = anode, -plate = cathode)