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During the initial transient leading to the steady state, the electron current going into a bulb may be greater than the electron current leaving the bulb. Explain why and how these two currents come to be equal in the steady state.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The accumulated electrons due to the difference in current reduce the inward current and increase the outward current, thus equalizing the current everywhere.

Step by step solution

01

Given data

The electron current going into a bulb is greater than the electron current leaving the bulb.

02

Behavior of electrons in a circuit

If there is accumulation of electrons somewhere in a circuit, they repel the incoming electrons and push the outgoing electrons, thus steadying out the flow

03

Determine the mechanism of steady current formation

If the region before the bulb has more current than the region after the bulb, the flow of electrons into the bulb is greater than the outflow. This creates an accumulation of electrons near the bulb. These accumulated electrons repel further electrons from coming in, thus reducing the inward current, and repel the electrons moving out, thus increasing the outward current. This process continues until the current is equal everywhere, thus reaching steady state.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

What is the most important general difference between a system in steady state and a system in equilibrium?

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.

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

Why does the brightness of a bulb not change noticeably when you use longer copper wires to connect it to the battery? (1) Very little energy is dissipated in the thick connecting wires. (2) The electric field in connecting wires is very small, so emfโ‰ˆEbulbLbulb. (3) Electric field in the connecting wires is zero, so emfโ‰ˆEbulbLbulb. (4) Current in the connecting wires is smaller than current in the bulb. (5) All the current is used up in the bulb, so the connecting wires donโ€™t matter.

A Nichrome wire 30 cm long and 0.25 mm in diameter is connected to a 1.5 V flashlight battery. What is the electric field inside the wire? Why you donโ€™t have to know how the wire is bent? How would your answer change if the wire diameter change were 0.35 mm? (Not that the electric field in the wire is quiet small compared to the electric field near a charged tape.)

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