Final answer:
The statement is False. The conductors within an extension cord should be large enough to minimize voltage drop, ensuring that appliances receive sufficient voltage for effective operation without compromising safety or performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that 'when using extension cords on portable power tools, the size of conductors must be small enough to enable a drop in voltage' is False. In fact, when using an extension cord for power tools or other appliances, you want to minimize the voltage drop across the extension cord to ensure the appliance receives sufficient voltage to operate effectively. The size of the conductors in an extension cord should be large enough to carry the current without a significant voltage drop. A thinner wire with a higher resistance will cause a greater voltage drop, which can reduce the performance of the appliance connected to it. This relationship can be understood through Ohm's Law, which states that the voltage drop (V) across a conductor can be calculated as the current (I) flowing through it multiplied by the resistance (R) of the conductor: V = IR.
Using an extension cord with too high a resistance can cause an unsafe drop in voltage at the appliance, reducing its power output and potentially causing damage to the tool or creating a hazardous situation.