Final answer:
The grocery store will need at least 4 circuits to supply power to 32 fluorescent luminaires, each using 180 watts of power at 120 volts, as we round up 3.2 circuits to the nearest whole number.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves calculating the necessary number of 15-amp lighting circuits to supply power to 32 fluorescent luminaires in a grocery store. Each luminaire uses 180 watts of power at 120 volts, and the store operates from 5 a.m. to midnight. The total power required by the luminaires is calculated by multiplying the number of luminaires by the power each uses: 32 luminaires × 180 watts/luminaire = 5760 watts. To find how many 15-amp circuits are needed, we divide the total wattage by the product of the voltage and the circuit amperage: 5760 watts / (120 volts × 15 amps) = 3.2 circuits. Since we can't have a fraction of a circuit, we round up to the nearest whole number, which means at least 4 circuits are needed to supply the lighting.