P8.2.4 - Mains Electricity

Question 1

How many volts are in mains electricity?

Answer 1

230V

Question 2

What type of voltage is used in mains?

Answer 2

Alternating

Question 3

What type of voltage is used in appliances such as a torch?

Answer 3

Direct voltage

Question 4

Describe the structure of a plug.

Answer 4

There is a live wire (brown) and a neutral wire (blue) that make a complete circuit with your appliance. The earth wire (green and yellow) is not connected to the mains, and instead the Earth.

Question 5

What is the danger of a plug?

Answer 5

If the live wire becomes loose it can touch a metal casing, which causes a dangerous current to flow through you

Question 6

What is used to prevent dangers in plugs?

Answer 6

The Earth wire connects the case to the pole which causes the current to flow through the pole instead as it has less resistance
The case will be made of plastic so current cannot flow