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Explain why a blue coloured spark appears in a switch contact when a circuit containing a load like…

Physics20272 marksShort answer
Explain why a blue coloured spark appears in a switch contact when a circuit containing a load like a heater, geyser or iron is switched off.

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AI
Written by AI (gemini) - it can contain mistakes.
This is due to a large self-induced emf (back emf) produced upon breaking the inductive circuit, which causes an electric discharge/breakdown through the air gap between the switch contacts. The ionised air molecules emit blue light when returning to the ground state from excited states.
Electromagnetic Induction

From ISC 2027 Specimen Physics Paper 1, question 5.

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