Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 7: Problem 27

Why is it economical to use extremely high voltages for the transmission of electrical power?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: It is economical to use extremely high voltages for the transmission of electrical power because it reduces power loss due to heat dissipation and enables the use of lighter transmission lines, ultimately saving both energy and infrastructure costs.

Step by step solution

01

Power Transmission Overview

Electrical power transmission involves transferring electrical energy from power plants to various consumers. The power is transferred through conductors, which will always have some resistance. According to Ohm's law (V = IR), this resistance results in energy loss as heat during transmission which is undesirable.
02

Power Loss and Current

The power loss in a transmission line is given by Joule's heating law: P_loss = I^2 * R, where P_loss is the power loss, I is the current, and R is the resistance of the transmission line. This formula shows that power loss is directly proportional to the square of the current flowing through the conductor. To minimize power loss, it is better to transmit electrical energy at a lower current.
03

Power and Voltage

The power transmitted (P_transmitted) is given by the formula: P_transmitted = IV, where V is the voltage across the transmission line. From this equation, we can see that if we want to transmit the same amount of power at a lower current, we need to increase the voltage. In other words, by increasing the voltage, we can transmit more power with less current.
04

Reducing Power Loss with High Voltage

By increasing the voltage, we can reduce the current flowing through the transmission line, which in turn reduces power loss due to heat dissipation. This is the main reason why extremely high voltages are used for the transmission of electrical power. Moreover, high voltage transmission also allows for less massive conductors, which reduces the overall cost of the transmission infrastructure. In conclusion, it is economical to use extremely high voltages for the transmission of electrical power because it reduces power loss and enables the use of lighter transmission lines, ultimately saving both energy and infrastructure costs.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

A particular solid is electrically charged after it is rubbed, but it is not known whether its charge is positive or negative. How could you determine which charge it has by using a piece of plastic and fur?

A 20-A fuse in a household electric circuit burns out. What catastrophe could occur if it is replaced by a \(30-\mathrm{A}\) fuse?

Materials can be classified into four categories based on the ease with which charges can flow through them. Give the names of these categories and describe each one.

Explain what an electrostatic precipitator is and how it works.

A solid metal cylinder has a certain resistance. It is then heated and carefully stretched to form a longer, thinner cylinder. After it cools, will its resistance be the same as, greater than, or less than what it was before?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Electric Charge Field and Potential

Read Explanation

Astrophysics

Read Explanation

Electrostatics

Read Explanation

Conservation of Energy and Momentum

Read Explanation

Physics of Motion

Read Explanation

Electricity

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free