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A fuse is a safety device used in an electrical plug - Leaving Cert Physics - Question (k) - 2022
Question (k)
A fuse is a safety device used in an electrical plug. Describe how a fuse works.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A fuse is a safety device used in an electrical plug - Leaving Cert Physics - Question (k) - 2022
Step 1
Describe how a fuse works.
Answer
A fuse is designed to protect electrical circuits by preventing excessive current flow. It contains a thin strip of metal that has a specific melting point.
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Normal Operation: Under normal operating conditions, the current flowing through the fuse is within safe limits, allowing the metal strip to remain solid.
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Excess Current: When there is a fault in the electrical circuit, such as a short circuit or overload, the current increases dramatically.
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Melting Process: Once the current exceeds the fuse's rated capacity, the heat generated by the increased current causes the thin metal strip to melt.
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Circuit Interruption: As the metal strip melts, it breaks the circuit, stopping the flow of electricity and thereby protecting the connected devices from damage due to excess current.