Final answer:
To thaw a frozen water pipe, wrap a coil carrying alternating current around it; the process is effective if the pipe is a conductor, as eddy currents will generate heat and lead to thawing.
Step-by-step explanation:
To thaw out a frozen water pipe using the conductive method, you should position the transmitter, or in this case, a coil carrying an alternating current, around the pipe so that the magnetic field generated by the coil can induce heating. The effectiveness of this method depends on whether the pipe is a conductor or not.
If the pipe is made from a conducting material such as metal, the alternating current in the coil will produce eddy currents in the pipe, which will generate heat due to the resistance of the material and lead to thawing. Conversely, if the pipe is made from a non-conducting material like PVC, this method will not be effective because non-conductors cannot generate eddy currents. Therefore, for efficient heat conduction and thawing, ensuring that the pipe is made from a conductive material is essential.