Final answer:
The outlet voltage decreases due to the voltage drop across wires, calculated using Ohm's law (V = IR). For a cord with 0.0600 ohms resistance and 5.00 A current, the drop is 0.300 V; for 0.300 ohms resistance, it's 1.50 V. This reduction affects an appliance's performance due to a fixed total voltage drop.
Step-by-step explanation:
Voltage Drop Across Wires
To determine how much the outlet voltage decreases due to the voltage drop across the wires, we can apply Ohm's law, which states that the voltage drop V, across a resistor when a current I flows through it, is given by the formula V = IR. In this case, the resistor represents the wire of the extension cord, and the voltage drop can reduce the effectiveness of the appliance connected to the cord. Using this formula, we find that:
(a) For a cord with a resistance of 0.0600 ohms and a current of 5.00 A flowing through it, the voltage drop is 0.300 V (0.0600 ohms * 5.00 A = 0.300 V).
(b) For a cheaper cord with a resistance of 0.300 ohms, the voltage drop when 5.00 A flows through it would be 1.50 V (0.300 ohms * 5.00 A = 1.50 V).
(c) The voltage drop across the extension cord diminishes the voltage supplied to the appliance. As a result, the power output by the appliance can be significantly decreased, reducing its ability to work properly. This is especially important because the total voltage drop from the wall to the final output of the appliance is fixed, meaning any increase in voltage drop across the cord results in less voltage for the appliance itself.