Chapter 1: Problem 2
Electric current is the fundamental electrical dimension in SI; its unit is the ampere (A). Determine units for the following quantities, as combinations of fundamental SI units. (a) Electric power; (b) Electric charge; (c) Electric potential difference; (d) Electric resistance; (e) Electric capacitance.
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Identifying the formula for Electric Power
Identifying the formula for Electric Charge
Determining the unit for Electric Potential Difference
Determining the unit for Electric Resistance
Determining the unit for Electric Capacitance
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Electric Power
The SI unit for electric power is the watt (W), which is equivalent to one joule per second (J/s). So, when we calculate electric power, we are essentially determining how many joules of energy are being transferred every second.
- A wattage of 60 W means 60 joules of energy are transferred every second.
- Power consumption in homes is often measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh); 1 kWh means 1000 watts used over 1 hour.
Electric Charge
In terms of SI units, electric charge is measured in coulombs (C). The formula to determine electric charge is \( Q = I \times t \), where \( Q \) is charge, \( I \) is electric current in amperes (A), and \( t \) is time in seconds (s). Thus, a current of 1 A flowing for 1 second will transfer a charge of 1 coulomb.
- A common battery might store a charge of several thousand coulombs.
- Lightning can involve the transfer of several hundred million coulombs.
Electric Potential Difference
The SI unit for electric potential difference is the volt (V). Voltage is calculated using the formula \( V = W/Q \), where \( V \) is voltage, \( W \) is work done in joules (J), and \( Q \) is charge in coulombs (C). Thus, 1 volt equals 1 joule per coulomb.
- A car battery commonly has a voltage of 12 volts, meaning it transfers 12 joules of energy per coulomb of charge it moves.
- Voltage helps in overcoming the resistance of electrical components to maintain current flow.
Electric Resistance
Resistance is measured in ohms (Ω), using Ohm's Law which states \( V = IR \), or rearranged, \( R = V/I \). Here, \( V \) represents voltage in volts, and \( I \) represents current in amperes. A higher resistance means more opposition to current flow.
- Resistance in wires leads to heat generation; that is how electric heaters work.
- Materials with low resistance, like copper, are preferred for wiring to reduce energy loss.
Electric Capacitance
Capacitance is measured in farads (F). It is determined through the formula \( C = Q/V \), where \( C \) is capacitance, \( Q \) is charge in coulombs, and \( V \) is voltage in volts. This means that one farad equals 1 coulomb per volt.
- Capacitors help in filtering out voltage fluctuations in power supplies.
- They can temporarily store energy to provide power during short drops in supply.