Physics
The diagram in figure shows a three pin plug. Label the three pins.
(a) Why is top pin thicker and longer than the other two?
(b) Why are the pins splitted at the ends?
Household Circuits
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Answer
In a three pin plug, the top pin is for earthing, the pin on the left is for live and the pin on the right is for neutral. In the good quality plugs, these are marked as E, L and N respectively.
(a) The earth pin is thicker and longer than the other two. The earth pin is made long so that the earth connection is made first. This ensures the safety of the user because if the appliance is defective, then as soon as the live pin gets connected, the current passes to the earth and the fuse blows off.
Further, the pin is made thicker so that even by mistake it cannot be inserted into the hole of live or neutral connection.
(b) The pins are splitted at the ends to provide a spring action so that they fit in the socket holes tightly.
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