What is the current density inside a 19 cm long nichrome wire connected to a 1.5 V battery, and what is the wire’s diameter if the current is 2.6 A?

To find the current density and the diameter of the nichrome wire, we can start with the definitions and the formulae involved.

a) Current Density: Current density (J) is defined as the current (I) flowing through a wire per unit cross-sectional area (A) of the wire. It can be calculated using the formula:

J = I / A

First, we need to find the cross-sectional area of the wire. The formula for the area of a circle (cross-section of the wire) is:

A = π * (d/2)²

But first, we will find the resistivity of nichrome, which is approximately 1.10 × 10-6 Ω·m and use it in conjunction with the voltage and current.

Using Ohm’s Law:

V = I * R

Where R (resistance) can be calculated using:

R = ρ * (L / A)

As we know:

V = I * (ρ * (L / A))

Let’s rearrange this to express A:

A = ρ * (L / V) * I

Plugging in the values: ρ = 1.10 × 10-6 Ω·m, L = 0.19 m, and V = 1.5 V:

A = (1.10 × 10-6) * (0.19) / (1.5 / 2.6)

Upon simplification, we can find A, and then substitute A back into the current density formula to find J:

J = I / A

b) Wire Diameter: Once we have the cross-sectional area A, we can solve for the diameter (d). From the area formula:

A = π * (d/2)²

Rearranging for diameter gives:

d = 2 * sqrt(A / π)

Substituting the calculated area back into this equation will provide us the diameter of the wire.

To summarize: the current density can be calculated based on the current and area, and the diameter can be calculated from the area determined from resistivity and resistance. These equations give a clear path toward the solutions. Make sure to compute the respective values accurately for final results.

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