Sam, an electrician, wraps a copper wire with a thick plastic coating. What is he most likely trying to do?
a- decrease the wire’s resistance
b- keep a current from passing out of the wire
c- increase the voltage produced by the wire
d- keep the electric potential of the wire balanced
b- keep a current from passing out of the wire
The most likely reason Sam, the electrician, wraps a copper wire with a thick plastic coating is to keep a current from passing out of the wire. The plastic coating acts as insulation and helps prevent the wire from coming into contact with other objects or conductive materials that could cause a short circuit or unwanted electrical flow.
To determine the most likely reason why Sam, the electrician, is wrapping a copper wire with a thick plastic coating, we can analyze the options provided and consider the properties of the materials involved.
a) Decrease the wire's resistance: In general, adding a plastic coating to a copper wire does not decrease its resistance. The plastic coating does not interact with the electrical current flowing through the wire, so it does not affect the wire's resistance. Therefore, option a is unlikely.
b) Keep a current from passing out of the wire: This is a plausible reason for Sam to add a plastic coating to the copper wire. The plastic coating acts as an insulator, providing a barrier that prevents the electrical current from escaping or leaking from the wire. This can help maintain the flow of current along the desired path and prevent any unintended electrical shocks or short circuits. Therefore, option b is a likely reason.
c) Increase the voltage produced by the wire: The plastic coating on the copper wire does not directly affect the voltage produced. The voltage of a wire is determined by the electrical source connected to it, not by any coatings or insulation applied to the wire itself. Therefore, option c is unlikely.
d) Keep the electric potential of the wire balanced: Electric potential usually refers to the amount of electrical potential energy per unit charge at a certain point in a circuit. The plastic coating on the wire does not directly influence the electric potential or balance it. Therefore, option d is unlikely.
Based on this reasoning, the most likely reason for Sam to wrap the copper wire with a thick plastic coating is to prevent the current from passing out of the wire (option b).