Q6CQ Knowing that the severity of a s... [FREE SOLUTION]

Chapter 21: Q6CQ (page 771)

Knowing that the severity of a shock depends on the magnitude of the current through your body, would you prefer to be in series or parallel with a resistance, such as the heating element of a toaster, if shocked by it? Explain.

Short Answer

Expert verified

As a result, a person would prefer to be in a series with strong resistance and a small stream flowing through him in order to avoid harm.

Step by step solution

Definition of the circuit.

The term "circuit" refers to a set of electrical connections.

Circuits are closed-loop or route systems that consist of a network of electrical components through which electrons can travel.

If you prefer to be in series or parallel, when shocked

Current is inversely proportional to resistance for a given voltage. To put it another way, the higher the resistance, the lower the current, and vice versa.

In comparison to equivalent resistance in parallel, we know that equivalent resistance in series is larger. The current must be reduced to avoid harm from shock. For a given voltage, the resistance must be greater for the current to be lesser. As a result, a person should be in series to have high resistance and a low current flowing through him.

Therefore, to avoid harm, a person would want to be in a series with strong resistance and a tiny stream flowing through him.