176k views
5 votes
Calculate the current in a circuit if 500 C of charge passes through it in 10 minutes. *

(1 Point)
a) 0.83A
b) 0.083A
c) 8.3A
d) 83A

1 Answer

4 votes

Answer:

Choice a. Approximately
0.83\; \rm A on average.

Step-by-step explanation:

The electric current through a wire is the rate at which electric charge flows through a cross-section of this wire.

Assume that electric charge of size
Q flowed through a wire cross-section over a period of time
t. The average current in that wire would be:


\displaystyle I = (Q)/(t).

For this question:


  • Q = 500\; \rm C, whereas

  • t = 10\; \rm \text{minutes}.

Therefore, the average current in this circuit would be:


\displaystyle I = (Q)/(t) = \frac{500\; \rm C}{10\; \text{minutes}} = 50\; \rm C /\text{minute}.

However, the units in the choices are all in
\rm A (for Amperes.) One Ampere is equal to one
\rm C / \text{second}. It will take some unit conversations to change the unit of
I = 50\; \rm C/ \text{minute} (coulombs-per-minute) to coulombs-per-second.


\begin{aligned}I &= 50\; \rm C/ \text{minute} \\ &= \frac{50\; \rm C}{1\; \rm \text{minute}} * \frac{1 \; \text{minute}}{60\; \rm \text{seconds}} \approx 0.83\; \rm C/ \text{second} = 0.83 \; \rm A\end{aligned}.

Hence, the most accurate choice here would be choice a.

User Dawy
by
7.7k points
Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.