Question

Think about the telephone poles that you may see in your neighborhood, on your way to school, or along highways. Some may look just like the image provided! There is a large, vertical pole that comes up out of the ground and a smaller pole attached that connects the cables from one telephone pole to another. Which word best describes the relationship of the two poles?"

A) Tandem
B) Parallel
C) Serial
D) Sequential

Answer 1

The relationship between the two poles is best described as B) Parallel, indicating they are set alongside each other at consistent distances. This arrangement is important in maintaining equal voltage across electrical branches and understanding forces, such as tension in guy wires.

Step-by-step explanation:

The word that best describes the relationship of the two poles to each other is B) Parallel. The large, vertical pole and the smaller pole that holds the cables are typically arranged in a parallel configuration. This means that they are alongside each other at consistent distances without crossing. In electrical systems, parallel arrangements are chosen to ensure that multiple pathways are available for the electrical current, maintaining the same voltage across each branch.

When considering forces on poles, such as those from guy wires, understanding the physics of vectors and tension is crucial. For instance, if a guy wire is attached to the top of a telephone pole at an angle of 30° with the vertical, it will exert both vertical and horizontal components of force on the pole. Calculating these forces involves breaking down the vectors into their components, which reveals the net force and direction of the forces acting upon the poles, ensuring their stability and proper function in the power line system.