Physics, 6th Edition

Chapter 27. Current and Resistance

Chapter 27. Current and Resistance
Electric Current and Ohms Law
27-1.

How many electrons pass a point every second in a wire carrying a current of 20 A? How much
time is needed to transport 40 C of charge past this point?

Q 20
Q = It = (20 C/s)(1 s);

27-2.

Q
;
t

Q 600 C

;
t
3s

Q 690 C

;
t
120 s

I = 5.75 A

Q = 1200 C

What is the potential drop across a 4- resistor with a current of 8 A passing through it?
V = IR = (8 A)(4 );

27-6.

I = 20 A

If a current of 24 A exists for 50 s, how many coulombs of charge have passed through the wire?
Q = It = (24 A)(50 s);

27-5.

t = 2.00 s

Find the current in amperes when 690 C of charge pass a given point in 2 min.

27-4.

Q 40 C

2.00 s
I 20 A
;

If 600 C of charge pass a given point in 3 s, what is the electric current in amperes?

27-3.

C
1e

-19
s 1.6 x 10 C ; Q = 1.25 x 1020 electrons/s

V = 32.0 V

Find the resistance of a rheostat if the drop in potential is 48 V and the current is 4 A.

119

Physics, 6th Edition

Chapter 27. Current and Resistance

R

27-7.

V 48 V

;
I
4A

Determine the current through a 5- resistor that has a 40-V drop in potential across it?

27-8.

R = 12.0

V 40 V

;
R 5

I = 8.00 A

A 2-A fuse is placed in a circuit with a battery having a terminal voltage of 12 V. What is the
minimum resistance for a circuit containing this fuse?

7-9.

V 12 V

;
I
2A

R = 6.00

What emf is required to pass 60 mA through a resistance of 20 k? If this same emf is applied to
a resistance of 300 , what will be the new current?
E = IR = 60 x 10-3 A)(20 x 103 );

E 1200 V

R 300 ;

E = 1200 V

I = 4.00 A

Electric Power and Heat Loss

27-10. A soldering iron draws 0.75 A at 120 V. How much energy will it use in 15 min?
P = IV = (0.75 A)(120 V);

Work
;
t

P = 90.0 W;

t = 15 min = 900 s

Energy Pt (90 W)(900 s)

120

; E = 81,000 J

Physics, 6th Edition

Chapter 27. Current and Resistance

27-11. An electric lamp has an 80- filament connected to a 110-V direct-current line. What is the
current through the filament? What is the power loss in watts?

V 110 V

;
R 80

V 2 (110 V) 2

;
R
80

I = 1.38 A

P = 151 W

27-12. Assume that the cost of energy in a home is 8 cents per kilowatt-hour. A family goes on a 2-week
vacation leaving a single 80-W light bulb burning. What is the cost?
E = Pt = (80 W)(2 wk)(7 day/wk)(24 h/day)(3600 s/h) = 26.9 kW h
E = (26.9 kW h)(0.08 c/kw h) = $2.15

(Rates vary)

27-13. A 120-V, direct-current generator delivers 2.4 kW to an electric furnace. What current is
supplied? What is the resistance?

P 2400W

;
V 120 V
I = 20 A;

V 120 V

;
I
20 A

R = 6.00

27-14. A resistor develops heat at the rate of 250 W when the potential difference across its ends is 120
V. What is its resistance?

V2
;
R

V 2 (120 V)2

P
250 W;

R = 57.6

27-15. A 120-V motor draws a current of 4.0 A. How many joules of electrical energy is used in one
hour? How many kilowatt-hours?

121

Physics, 6th Edition

Chapter 27. Current and Resistance

P = VI = (120 V)(4.0 A) = 480 W

E
;
t

E Pt (480 W)(3600 s);

1 kW h
6
3.60 x 10 J

E = 1.73 MJ

E 1.73 x 106 J

E = 0.480 kW h

27-16. A household hair dryer is rated at 2000 W and is designed to operate on a 120-V outlet. What is
the resistance of the device?

V2
;
R

V 2 (120 V) 2

;
P
2000 W

R = 7.20

Resistivity
27-17. What length of copper wire 1/16 in. in diameter is required to construct a 20- resistor at 200C?
What length of nichrome wire is needed?
Copper: = 1.78 x 10-8 m ;

nichrome: = 100 x 10-8 m

ft = 0.0625 in. = 62.5 mil;

A (62.5 mil) 2 3906 cmil

1
16

l
;
A

l
;
A

RA (20 )(3906 cmil)

10.4 cmil/ft

l = 7510 ft

RA (20 )(3906 cmil)

600 cmil/ft

l = 130 ft

122

Physics, 6th Edition

Chapter 27. Current and Resistance

27-18. A 3.0-m length of copper wire ( = 1.78 x 10-8 m) at 200C has a cross section of

mm2.What is the electrical resistance of this wire? [ A = 4 mm 2 = 4 x 10-6 m2 ]

l (1.72 x 10-8 m)(3.0 m)

A
4.00 x 10-6 m 2
;

R =12.9 m

27-19. Find the resistance of 40 m of tungsten ( = 5.5 x 10-8 m) wire having a diameter of 0.8 mm at
200C?

D 2 (0.0008 m) 2
A

4
4
;

A = 5.03 x 10-7 m2

l (5.5 x 10-8 m)(40.0 m)

A
5.03 x 10-7 m 2
;

R = 4.37

27-20. A certain wire has a diameter of 3 mm and a length of 150 m. It has a resistance of
at 200C. What is the resistivity?

3.00

[ A = D= 7.07 x 10-7 m2. ]

l
RA (3 )(7.07 x 10-7 m 2 )
; =

A
l
150 m
;

= 1.41 x 10-8 m

27-21. What is the resistance of 200 ft of iron ( = 9.5 x 10-8 m) wire with a diameter of 0.002 in. at
200C? ( = 9.5 x 10-8 m). [ 200 ft = 61.0 m; 0.002 in. = 5.08 x 10-5 m ]

D 2 (5.08 x 10-5 m) 2

4
4
;

123

A = 2.03 x 10-9 m2

Physics, 6th Edition

Chapter 27. Current and Resistance

l (9.5 x 10-8 m)(61.0 m)

A
5.08 x 10-5 m 2
;

R = 2860

*27-22. A nichrome wire ( = 100 x 10-8 m) has a length of 40 m at 200C What is the diameter if the
total resistance is 5 ?

l
;
A

D2
A
;
4

l (100 x 10-8 m)(40 m)

R
5.00
;

A = 8 x 10-6 m2

4A
2(8 x 10-6 m 2 )
D

D = 2.26 mm

*27-23. A 115-V source of emf is attached to a heating element which is a coil of nichrome wire ( = 100 x
10-8 m ) of cross section 1.20 mm2 What must be the length of the wire if the resistive power
loss is to be 800 W? [A = 1.20 mm2 = 1.20 x 10-6 m2 ]

V2
P
;
R

l
;
A

V 2 (115 V) 2
R

16.5
P
800 W
;

RA (16.5 )(1.20 x 10-6 m 2 )

100 x 10-8 m

R = 16.5

l = 19.8 m

Temperature Coefficient of Resistance

27-24. The resistance of a length of wire ( = 0.0065/C0) is 4.00 at 200C. What is the resistance at
800C? [ t = 800C 200C = 60 C0 ]

124

Physics, 6th Edition

Chapter 27. Current and Resistance

R Ro t (0.0065 / C0 )(4 )(60 C0 ) 1.56 ; R = 4.00 + 1.56 = 5.56

27-25. If the resistance of a conductor is 100 at 200C, and 116 at 600C, what is its temperature
coefficient of resistivity?

[ t = 600C 200C = 40 C0 ]

R
116 - 100

R0 t (100 )(40 C0 ) ;

= 0.00400 /C0

27-26. A length of copper ( = 0.0043/C0) wire has a resistance of 8 at 200C. What is the resistance at
900C? At - 300C?

R (0.0043 / C0 )(8 )(70 C0 ) 2.41 ; R = 8.00 + 2.41 = 10.41

R (0.0043 / C0 )(8 )(-300C 200 C) 1.72 ; R = 8.00 - 1.72 = 6.28

*27-27. The copper windings ( = 0.0043/C0) of a motor experience a 20 percent increase in resistance
over their value at 200C. What is the operating temperature?

R
R
0.2
0.2; t

46.5 C0
0
R
R0 0.0043 / C
; t = 200C + 46.5 C0 = 66.5 0C

*27-28. The resistivity of copper at 200C is 1.78 x 10-8 m. What change in temperature will produce a
25 percent increase in resistivity?
Challenge Problems
27-29. A water turbine delivers 2000 kW to an electric generator which is 80 percent efficient and has an
output terminal voltage of 1200 V. What current is delivered and what is the electrical resistance?
[ Pout = (0.80)(2000 kW) = 1600 kW ]

125

Physics, 6th Edition

Chapter 27. Current and Resistance

P VI ;

P 1600 x 103 W

;
V
1200 V

V 1200 V

I 1300 A ;

I = 1330 A

R = 0.900

27-30. A 110-V radiant heater draws a current of 6.0 A. How much heat energy in joules is delivered in
one hour?

E
VI ;
t

E VIt (110 V)(6 A)(3600 s);

E = 2.38 MJ

27-31. A power line has a total resistance of 4 k. What is the power loss through the wire if the current
is reduced to 6.0 mA?

P I 2 R (0.006 A) 2 (4000 );

P =144 mW

27-32. A certain wire has a resistivity of 2 x 10-8 m at 200C. If its length is 200 m and its cross section is
4 mm2, what will be its electrical resistance at 1000C. Assume that = 0.005/C0 for this material.
[ t = 1000C 200C = 80 C0 ]

l (2 x 10-8 m)(200 m)
R0

A
4 x 10-6 m 2
; R0 = 1.00 at 200C

R R0 R0 t 1.00 (0.005 / C0 )(1 )(80 C0 );

126

R = 1.40

Physics, 6th Edition

Chapter 27. Current and Resistance

27-33. Determine the resistivity of a wire made of an unknown alloy if its diameter is 0.007 in. and 100 ft
of the wire is found to have a resistance of 4.0 .

A = (7 mil)2 = 49 cmil;

RA (4 )(49 cmil)

;
l
100 ft

[ D = 0.007 in. = 7 mil ]

l
;
A

RA
l

= 1.96 cmil/ft

27-34. The resistivity of a certain wire is 1.72 x 10-8 m at 200C. A 6-V battery is connected to a 20-m
coil of this wire having a diameter of 0.8 mm. What is the current in the wire?

D 2 (0.0008 m) 2

5.03 x 10-7 m 2
4
4
;

l (1.72 x 10-8 m)(20 m)

R

;
A
5.03 x 10-7 m 2
27-34. (Cont.)

V
6.00 V

;
R 0.684

l
A

R 0.684

I = 8.77 A

27-35. A certain resistor is used as a thermometer. Its resistance at 20 0C is 26.00 , and its resistance at
400C is 26.20 . What is the temperature coefficient of resistance for this material?

R
(26.20 - 26.00 )

;
R0 t (26.00 )(400 C - 200C)

127

= 3.85 x 10-4/C0

Physics, 6th Edition

Chapter 27. Current and Resistance

*27-36. What length of copper wire at 200C has the same resistance as 200 m of iron wire at 200C?
Assume the same cross section for each wire. [ Product RA doesnt change. ]

l2

l
; RA l ;
A

1R1 = 2l2;

1l1 (9.5 x108 m)(200 m)

;
2
1.72 x 10-8 m

l2

1l1
2

l2 = 1100 m

*27-37. The power loss in a certain wire at 200C is 400 W. If = 0.0036/C0, by what percentage will the
power loss increase when the operating temperature is 68 0C?

R R0 t ;

R
(0.0036 / C0 )(680 C - 200C) = 0.173
R

Since P = I2R, the power loss increases by same percentage: 17.3 %

Critical Thinking Problems

27-38.

A 150- resistor at 200C is rated at 2.0 W maximum power. What is the maximum voltage that
can be applied across the resistor with exceeding the maximum allowable power? What is the
current at this voltage?

V2
P
;
R

V PR (2.00 W)(150 );

128

V = 17.3 V

Physics, 6th Edition

Chapter 27. Current and Resistance

27-39. The current in a home is alternating current, but the same formulas apply. Suppose a fan motor
operating a home cooling system is rated at 10 A for a 120-V line. How much energy is required
to operate the fan for a 24-h period? At a cost of 9 cents per kilowatt-hour, what is the cost of
operating this fan continuously for 30 days?
P = VI = (110 V)((10 A) = 1100 W;

E = Pt = (1100 W)(24 h) = 26.4 kW h

E = (26.4 kW h)(3600 s/h)(1000 W/kW); E = 95.0 MJ

Cost 26.4

*27-40.

kW h $0.08

(30 days);
day kW h

Cost = $53.36

The power consumed in an electrical wire (= 0.004/C0) is 40 W at 200C. If all other factors are
held constant, what is the power consumption when (a) the length is doubled, (b) the diameter is
doubled, (c) the resistivity is doubled, and (d) the absolute temperature is doubled? (Power loss
is proportional to resistance R)

l
;
A

P l; P

(a) Double length and double power loss;

1
;
A

P R T

Loss = 2(40 W) = 80 W

(b) doubling diameter gives 4A0 and one-fourth power loss: Loss = (40 W) = 10 W
(c) Doubling resistivity doubles resistance, and also doubles power loss: Loss = 80 W
*27-40. (Cont.)

(d) T = (200 + 2730) = 293 K; T = 2T T = T; T = 293 K = 293 C0

If absolute temperature doubles, the new resistance is given by:

R R0 (1 T );

R
1 (0.004 / C0 )(293 C0 ) 2.172;
R0

129

Physics, 6th Edition

Chapter 27. Current and Resistance

P
R

2.172;
P0 R 0

Loss = 2.172(40 W);

Loss = 86.9 W

This of course presumes that resistivity remains linear, which is not likely.
*27-41. What must be the diameter of an aluminum wire if it is to have the same resistance as an equal
length of copper wire of diameter 2.0 mm? What length of nichrome wire is needed to have the
same resistance as 2 m of iron wire of the same cross section?

l
;
A

Da2

R
const.;
l A

c a

;
Ac Aa

D2
;
4

c
a

2
( Dc )
( Dc ) 2

a Dc2
c
1.72 x 10-8 m
; Da Dc
(2 mm)
c
a
2.80 x 10-8 m

l
; RA l const.;
A

ln

nln i li ;

i li (1.72 x 10-8 m)

n
(100 x 10-8 m) ;

ln

Da = 1.57 mm

i li
n

ln = 1.72 cm

*27-42. An iron wire ( = 0.0065/C0) has a resistance of 6.00 at 200C and a copper wire ( =
0.0043/C0) has a resistance of 5.40 at 200C. At what temperature will the two wires have the
same resistance? [ Conditions: iRoiti - cR0ctc = 6 = -0.60.. ]

0.600
0.600

0
i Roi c Roc (0.0065 / C )(6.0 ) - (0.0043 / C0 )(5.4 ) ;

130

t = -38.0 C0

Physics, 6th Edition

Chapter 27. Current and Resistance

t = tf 200 = -38.0 C0;

131

tf = -18.00C