An electric device delivers a current of [tex]$15.0 A$[/tex] for 30 seconds. How many electrons flow through it?
Answer (2)
In 30 seconds, approximately 2.81 × 10²¹ electrons flow through a device delivering a current of 15.0 A. This is calculated by determining the total charge and then finding the equivalent number of electrons. The calculation uses the charge of a single electron.
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To find out how many electrons flow through the electric device, we need to use the relationship between current, charge, and the number of electrons. Here's how you can think this through step-by-step:
Understand the Concepts :
Current (I) is defined as the flow of electric charge. It is measured in amperes (A). In this case, the current is given as 15.0 A .
The charge of a single electron (e) is approximately 1.6 × 1 0 − 19 Coulombs .
The formula that relates current (I) to charge (Q) and time (t) is Q = I × t . Charge is measured in Coulombs (C).
Calculate the Total Charge (Q) :
Given: I = 15.0 A and t = 30 seconds .
Using the formula, we get: Q = I × t = 15.0 A × 30 s = 450 C
Calculate the Number of Electrons :
Each electron carries a charge of 1.6 × 1 0 − 19 C .
The number of electrons (n) is the total charge divided by the charge of one electron: n = e Q = 1.6 × 1 0 − 19 C/electron 450 C = 2.81 × 1 0 21 electrons
Therefore, approximately 2.81 × 1 0 21 electrons flow through the device in 30 seconds.
