Final answer:
The refrigerator may not run properly because the long, inexpensive extension cord likely has too much resistance, leading to a significant voltage drop and insufficient power to the appliance.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a long, inexpensive extension cord is connected from inside the house to a refrigerator outside and the refrigerator doesn’t run as it should, the problem might be that the extension cord has too much resistance, causing a voltage drop.
Inexpensive cords often utilize thinner wires that can have higher resistance. This means that the voltage drop across the extension cord is large, and as a result, the power supplied to the refrigerator is decreased, impacting its performance. It is important that the refrigerator receives the correct voltage to function properly, so using a high-quality extension cord with lower resistance or a shorter one would be advisable to ensure adequate power delivery.