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A standard 100 W (120 V) lightbulb contains a 7.0-cm-long tungsten filament. The high-temperature resistivity of tungsten is 9.0 x 10−7Ω10−7Ωm. What is the diameter of the filament

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Final answer:

To find the diameter of the tungsten filament, we can use the formula for resistance (R = (ρL)/A). Given the resistance, resistivity, and length, we can solve for the cross-sectional area (A). Then, using the formula for the cross-sectional area of a circle (A = πr^2), we can determine the radius (r) of the filament. Finally, we multiply the radius by 2 to find the diameter.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the diameter of the tungsten filament, we can use the formula for resistance:

R = (ρL)/A

Where R is the resistance, ρ is the resistivity, L is the length of the filament, and A is the cross-sectional area.

Given that the resistance is 0.2002 ohms, the resistivity is 9.0 x 10^-7 ohm*m, and the length is 7.0 cm, we can rearrange the formula to solve for the cross-sectional area:

A = (ρL)/R

Substituting the given values, we have:

A = (9.0 x 10^-7 ohm*m) * (7.0 x 10^-2 m) / 0.2002 ohms

Simplifying the expression, we find:

A ≈ 2.48 x 10^-5 m^2

To find the diameter of the filament, we can use the formula for the cross-sectional area of a circle:

A = πr^2

Where A is the cross-sectional area and r is the radius (half the diameter) of the filament.

Substituting the known value of the area, we can rearrange the formula to solve for the radius:

r = sqrt(A / π)

Substituting the given value of the area, we have:

r = sqrt(2.48 x 10^-5 m^2 / π)

Simplifying the expression, we find:

r ≈ 0.00355 m

Finally, to find the diameter, we multiply the radius by 2:

Diameter ≈ 2 * r ≈ 2 * 0.00355 m ≈ 0.0071 m ≈ 7.1 cm

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