Question

The insulated wiring in a house can safely carry a maximum current of 18 A. The electrical outlets in the house provide an alternating voltage of 120 V. A space heater when plugged into the outlet operates at an average power of 1500 W. How many space heaters can safely be plugged into a single electrical outlet and turned on for an extended period of time? *

Answer 1

1 space heater

Step-by-step explanation:

fro the question, the Number of space heat is given as

n = Imax/Is................. Equation 1

Where Imax = maximum current of the insulated wire, Is = current of the space heater.

Is can be calculated from,

P = VIs..................... Equation 2

Where P = power of the space heater, V = Voltage of the outlet.

make Is the subject of the equation

Is = P/V................. Equation 3

Given: P = 1500 W, V = 120 V.

Substitute into equation 3

Is = 1500/120

Is = 12.5 A.

Also Given: Imax = 18 A

Substitute into equation 1

n = 18/12.5

n = 1.44

For safety,

n ≈ 1

Hence the number of space heater the can safely be plugged into a single electrical outlet = 1