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 - General Problems - Page 524: 74

Answer

2:1.

Work Step by Step

Let the long, thick conductor be called number 1, and the short, thin conductor be called number 2. Note that $\mathcal{l}_1=2\mathcal{l}_2$ and $A_1=4A_2$. The power dissipated by a resistor is $P=V^2/R$. The voltages are identical. $$\frac{P_1}{P_2}=\frac{V^2/R_1}{V^2/R_2}=\frac{R_2}{R_1}$$ $$R_2=\rho\frac{\mathcal{l}_2}{A_2}=\rho\frac{0.5\mathcal{l}_1}{A_1/4}=2\rho\frac{\mathcal{l}_1}{A_1}=2R_1$$ $$\frac{P_1}{P_2}=\frac{R_2}{R_1}=2$$
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