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Difficulty: MediumElectrical Current and Electron Flow

An electrical circuit that transfers 180 coulombs180\text{ coulombs} of charge through a conductor over a span of 3 minutes3\text{ minutes} maintains an electric current of 60 amperes60\text{ amperes}.

Answer: Answer

Answer

False. The actual current is 1 A1\text{ A} because time must be expressed in seconds (3 minutes=180 seconds3\text{ minutes} = 180\text{ seconds}) when calculating current in amperes (I=QtI = \frac{Q}{t}).
The statement is false because the ampere represents charge transfer per second (1 A=1 C/s1\text{ A} = 1\text{ C/s}). A charge of 180 coulombs180\text{ coulombs} flowing over 3 minutes3\text{ minutes} (180 seconds180\text{ seconds}) yields an electric current of exactly 1 ampere1\text{ ampere}, not 60 amperes60\text{ amperes}.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Convert the elapsed time from minutes to seconds
3 minutes×60 seconds/minute=180 seconds3\text{ minutes} \times 60\text{ seconds/minute} = 180\text{ seconds}
The base unit of electric current (ampere) is defined as coulombs per second (1 A=1 C/s1\text{ A} = 1\text{ C/s}).
2
Calculate the electric current using the charge rate formula I=QtI = \frac{Q}{t}
I=180 C180 s=1 AI = \frac{180\text{ C}}{180\text{ s}} = 1\text{ A}
Electric current is the rate of charge flow through a cross-section of a conductor.
3
Compare the calculated value with the statement's value
The calculated current is 1 A1\text{ A}, whereas the statement asserts 60 A60\text{ A}.
The statement erroneously divides charge by time in minutes rather than seconds.

Key Concept

Electric current is defined as the rate of charge flow per unit time, where one ampere equals one coulomb per second (I=QtI = \frac{Q}{t}).
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Electrical Current and Electron Flow

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