A bird sits on a high-voltage power line with its feet 2.0 cm apart. The wire is made from alumi

step 1 Okay, in this problem we have a bird sitting on a high voltage power line. Its feet are 2 centim

A bird sits on a high-voltage power line with its feet 2.0...

A bird sits on a high-voltage power line with its feet $2.0 \mathrm{cm}$ apart. The wire is made from aluminum, is $2.0 \mathrm{cm}$ in diameter, and carries a current of $150 \mathrm{A}$. What is the potential difference between the bird's feet?

Key Concepts

Electric Potential Difference

Electric potential difference is the work needed per unit charge to move a charge between two points in an electric field. In the context of current-carrying conductors, it is the difference in electric potential between two points along the conductor and is directly related to the current flow and the resistance of the segment between those points.

Ohm's Law

Ohm's Law is a fundamental relation in electrical circuits, stating that the voltage drop (potential difference) across a conductor is equal to the current passing through it times its resistance (V = IR). This principle is essential when calculating how small segments of a conductor develop potential differences due to the flow of current.

Resistance and Resistivity

Resistance is a measure of how much a material opposes the flow of electric current and is determined by the material's resistivity, its length, and its cross-sectional area (R = ? L / A). Resistivity is a material-specific property that influences how much voltage drop will occur over a given length of the conductor carrying a current.

Electric Field in a Conductor

The electric field within a conductor carrying a current is related to the voltage drop along that conductor. The field can be considered uniform in a homogeneous, cylindrical conductor and is given by the voltage difference per unit length (E = ?V / L). This concept is useful for understanding the potential difference over small distances along the conductor, such as between the bird’s feet.

Transcript

Please give Ace some feedback