The circuit shown in Figure 18.107 consists of a single battery, whose emf is 1.8V, and three wires made of the same material but having different cross-sectional areas. Each thick wire has a cross-sectional area 1.4×10-6m2and is 25cmlong. The thin wire has a cross-sectional area 5.9×10-6m2and is 6.1cmlong. In this metal, the electron mobility is 5×10-4(ms)(Vm), and there are 4×1028mobile electrons/m3.

(a) Which of the following statements about the circuit in the steady state are true? (1) At location B, the electric field points toward the top of the page. (2) The magnitude of the electric field at locations F and C is the same. (3) The magnitude of the electric field at locations D and F is the same. (4) The electron current at location D is the same as the electron current at location F . (b) Write a correct energy conservation (loop) equation for this circuit, following a path that starts at the negative end of the battery and goes counterclockwise. (c) Write this circuit's correct charge conservation (node) equation. (d) Use the appropriate equation(s), plus the equation relating electron current to electric field, to solve for the magnitudes EDand EF of the electric field at locations D and F . (e) Use the appropriate equation(s) to calculate the electron current at location D in the steady state.

Short Answer

Expert verified

Statements (1), (2), and (4) are true about the circuit in the steady state condition.

Step by step solution

01

Write the given data from the question.

Emf of battery, V=1.8V

Cross sectional area of thick wire,A1=1.4×10-6m2

Length of thick wire,L1=25cm

Cross sectional area of thin wire,A2=5.9×10-6m2

Length of thin wire,L2=6.1cm

Electron mobility, μ=5×10-4ms/Vm

Electron density,n=4×1028e/m3

02

Determine the formulas to find the correct statement in the steady state of the circuit.

The electric field is defined as the ratio of the voltage and length of the wire.

The expression to calculate the magnitude of the electric field is given as follows.


E=VL

Here, Vis the voltage and Lis the length of the wire.

03

Find the correct statement in the steady state about the circuit.

The direction of the electric field is away from the battery's positive terminal and toward the negative terminal. Therefore, the electric field moves from the positive terminal to the battery's negative terminal. So, the direction of the electric field at the location is toward the top of the page.

The electric field depends on the voltage and length of the wire. Because at locations F and C, the voltage and length of the wire are the same. But at the locations F and D length of both the wire are different. Therefore, the magnitude of the electric field is the same at locations F and C but different at locations F and D.

At the steady state condition of the circuit, the electron current at all the locations is the same.

Hence the statement (1), (2), and (4) are true about the circuit in the steady state condition.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

In the few nanoseconds before the steady state is established in a circuit consisting of a battery, copper wires, and a single bulb, is the current the same everywhere in the circuit? Explain.

In the circuit shown in Figure 18.91, all of the wire is made of Nichrome, but one segment has a much smaller cross-sectional area. On a copy of this diagram, using the same scale for magnitude that you used in the previous question for Figure 18.90, show the steady-state electric field at the locations indicated, including in the thinner segment. Before attempting to answer these questions, draw a copy of this diagram. All of the locations indicated by letters are inside the wire.

(a)On your diagram, show the electric field at the locations indicated, paying attention to relative magnitude. Use the same scale for magnitude as you did in the previous question.

(b)Carefully draw pluses and minuses on your diagram to show the approximate surface charge distribution that produces the electric field you drew. Make your drawing show clearly the differences between regions of high surface charge density and regions of low surface-charge density. Use your diagram to determine which of the following statements about this circuit are true.

(1) There is a large gradient of surface charge on the wire between locations Cand E. (2) The electron current is the same at every location in this circuit.

(3) Fewer electrons per second pass location Ethan location C.

(4) The magnitude of the electric field at location Gis smaller in this circuit than it

was in the previous circuit (Figure 18.90).

(5) The magnitude of the electric field is the same at every location in this circuit.

(6) The magnitude of the electric field at location D is larger than the magnitude of the electric field at location G.

(7) There is no surface charge at all on the wire near location G.

(8) The electron current in this circuit is less than the electron current in the previous circuit (Figure 18.90).

In the circuit shown in Figure 18.110, the two thick wires and the thin wire are made of Nichrome.

(a) Show the steady-state electric field at indicated locations, including in the thin wire. (b) Carefully draw pluses and minuses on your own diagram to show the approximate surface-charge distribution in the steady state. Make your drawing show the differences between regions of high surface-charge density and regions of low surface-charge density. (c) The emf of the battery is1.5V. In Nichrome, there are n=9×1028 mobile electrons per m3, and the mobility of mobile electrons is μ=7×10-5(m/s)(V/m). Each thick wire has a length of L1 =20cm=0.2m and a cross-sectional area of A1 =9×10-8 m2. The thin wire has a length of L2=5cm=0.05m and a cross-sectional area of A2=1.5×10-8m2. (The total length of the three wires is 45cm)Calculate the number of electrons entering the thin wire every second in the steady state. Do not make any approximations, and do not use Ohm’s law or series-resistance equations. State briefly where each of your equations comes from.

Question:In figure 18.102 suppose that VC-VF=8 V and VD-VE=4.5 V.

(a) What is the potential difference VC-VD?

(b) If the element between the battery C and D is a battery, is the + end of the battery at C or D?

Suppose that a wire leads into another, thinner wire of the same material that has only half the cross-sectional area. In the steady state, the number of electrons per second flowing through the thick wire must be equal to the number of electrons per second flowing through the thin wire. If the electric field \({E_1}\) in the thick wire is \(1 \times 1{0^{ - 2}}\;N/C\), what is the electric field \({E_2}\) in the thinner wire?

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