Where do we use wires that melt quickly and break when large electric currents…
2023
Where do we use wires that melt quickly and break when large electric currents pass through them ?
- A.
(1) Electric Iron
- B.
(2) Electric Fuses
- C.
(3) Electric Kettles
- D.
(4) Geysers
Attempted by 367 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Answer: Electric fuses (wires that melt quickly and break when a large current passes through).
Explanation: A fuse wire is made of a material with a low melting point so that if the current in the circuit rises above a safe limit, the wire melts and opens (breaks) the circuit. This stops the flow of excessive current and protects appliances and wiring from damage and prevents fires.
Where it is used: In fuse units and overcurrent protection devices as a deliberate weak link to protect circuits.
Why not used in heating appliances (iron, kettle, geyser): These appliances use heating elements made from materials with higher melting points that are designed to carry and convert large currents into heat safely. Using a low-melting-point wire there would cause the appliance to fail rather than protect the circuit.
Key point: The fuse wire is a protective component chosen to melt first under fault conditions so that the rest of the circuit remains safe.