Physics: Principles with Applications (7th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32162-592-7
ISBN 13: 978-0-32162-592-2

Chapter 18 - Electric Currents - Questions - Page 520: 16

Answer

It is decreasing.

Work Step by Step

Just before the toaster is turned on, the Nichrome wire is at room temperature. When the switch is flipped on, the wire starts to heat up. The resistivity of Nichrome and hence the wire resistance increases with temperature. Assuming the average voltage doesn’t change, increasing the resistance will decrease the current. Once the Nichrome reaches its final temperature, which happens fairly quickly, the current levels off.
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