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Conductor line loss in some cases can increase the voltage on the load in a three wire circuit.

a. true
b. false

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The statement that conductor line loss can increase the voltage on the load in a three-wire circuit is false. Line losses typically lead to a reduced voltage at the load due to resistance. High-voltage transmission lines operate at high voltages to minimize current and thus power losses, and they are not wrapped in insulating material.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is false that conductor line loss in some cases can increase the voltage on the load in a three-wire circuit. Conductor line loss typically results in a voltage drop across the circuit, meaning that the voltage at the load is reduced, not increased. Power lines, including high-voltage transmission lines, utilize high voltages to reduce current and thereby minimize power losses due to the resistance of the wires. Transmission lines are designed to dissipate as little power as possible and use insulating connectors to hold the wires aloft; however, they are not wrapped in insulating material because they are high above the ground, where insulation from surroundings is naturally provided by air.

Moreover, in power transmission, lower currents are preferable because higher currents lead to increased energy loss as heat. Therefore, raising the voltage of power lines reduces the current for a given power transfer, which helps to minimize losses. As such, transmission lines are kept at high voltages, often in the hundreds of kilovolts, to optimize efficiency and minimize line losses. If a superconducting material, which exhibits no resistance, were used, there would theoretically be no energy loss during transmission.

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