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In the few nanoseconds before the steady state is established in a circuit consisting of a battery, copper wires, and a single bulb, is the current the same everywhere in the circuit? Explain.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The region in the circuit before the light bulb has more current than the region in the circuit after the light bulb

Step by step solution

01

Given data

A circuit consists of a battery, copper wire and a single bulb.

02

Determine the energy transfer in a light bulb

In a light bulb, electrical energy of the mobile electrons are converted to heat and light energy.

03

Comparison of current in a circuit before steady state

In a light bulb, a part of the electrical energy of the mobile electrons is lost to produce heat and light. Thus the electrons coming out of the bulb have less energy and thus region has less current since current is the rate of flow of charges.

Thus, before steady state is achieved, the region in the circuit before the light bulb has more current than the region in the circuit after the light bulb.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A steady-state current flows through the Nichrome wire in the circuit shown in Figure 18.90. Before attempting to answer the following questions, draw a copy of this diagram. All of the locations indicated by letters are inside the wire.

(a)On your diagram, show the electric field at the locations indicated, paying attention to relative magnitude.

(b)Carefully draw pluses and minuses on your diagram to show the approximate surface charge distribution that produces the electric field you drew. Make your drawing show clearly the differences between regions of high surface charge density and regions of low surface-charge density. Use your diagram to determine which of the following statements about this circuit are true.

(1) There is some excess negative charge on the surface of the wire near location B.

(2) Inside the metal wire the magnitude of the electric field is zero.

(3) The magnitude of the electric field is the same at locations Gand C.

(4) The electric field points to the left at location G.

(5) There is no excess charge on the surface of the wire.

(6) There is excess charge on the surface of the wire near the batteries but nowhere else.

(7) The magnitude of the electric field inside the wire is larger at location Gthan at location C.

(8) The electric field at location Dpoints to the left.

(9) Because the current is not changing, the circuit is in static equilibrium.

Compare the direction of the average electric field inside a battery to the direction of the electric field in the wires and resistors of a circuit.

Since there is an electric field inside a wire in a circuit, why donโ€™t the mobile electrons in the wire accelerate continuously?

What is the difference between emf and electric potential difference?

How can there be a nonzero electric field inside a wire in a circuit? Isnโ€™t the electric field inside a metal always zero?

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