Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 30 - Current and Resistance - Exercises and Problems - Page 889: 57

Answer

$7.23\;\rm mm$

Work Step by Step

The current is the same in both wires according to the current conservation principle. Hence, $$I_1=I_2=I\tag 1$$ However, the current density is not the same in both cases. $$J_1=\dfrac{I_1}{A_1}=\sigma_1E_1\tag 2$$ and hence, $$J_2=\dfrac{I_2}{A_2}=\sigma_2E_2\tag 3$$ where $_1$ is for the left wire (Aluminum) and $_2$ is for the right wire (Nichrome). Divide (3) by (2), $$\dfrac{\dfrac{I_2}{A_2}}{\dfrac{I_1}{A_1}}=\dfrac{\sigma_2E_2}{\sigma_1E_1}$$ where $I_1=I_2$, $$\dfrac{A_1}{A_2}=\dfrac{\sigma_2E_2}{\sigma_1E_1}$$ where $A=\pi r^2=\pi (D/2)^2=\pi D^2/4$ where $D$ is the diameter of the wire, $$\dfrac{\pi D_1^2/4}{\pi D_2^2/4}=\dfrac{\sigma_2E_2}{\sigma_1E_1}$$ $$\dfrac{ D_1^2 }{ D_2^2 }=\dfrac{\sigma_2E_2}{\sigma_1E_1}$$ Hence, $$D_2^2=\dfrac{\sigma_1E_1}{\sigma_2E_2}D_1^2$$ And since we need the electric field strength to be the same in both wires, $E_1=E_2$; $$D_2 =\sqrt{\dfrac{\sigma_1 }{\sigma_2 }}D_1$$ Plug the known; $$D_2 =\sqrt{\dfrac{(3.5\times 10^7)}{(6.7\times 10^5)}}(1)$$ $$D_2=\color{red}{\bf 7.23}\;\rm mm$$
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