Copper and aluminum are being considered for a high-voltage transmission line that must carry a current of 60.7 A. The resistance per unit length is to be 0.195 Ω/km. The densities of copper and aluminum are 8960 and 2600 kg/m3, respectively. Compute (a) the magnitude J of the current density and (b) the mass per unit length λ for a copper cable and (c) J and (d) λ for an aluminum cable.

a) The magnitude JJ of the current density for a copper cable is 5.91 × 10⁵A.m⁻²

b)The mass per unit length \lambdaλ for a copper cable is 0.757kg/m

c)The magnitude J of the current density for an aluminum cable is 3.5 × 10⁵A/m²

d)The mass per unit length \lambdaλ for an aluminum cable is 0.380kg/m

Explanation:

The expression for electric field of conductor is,

The general equation of voltage is,

V = iR

The expression for current density in term of electric field is,

Substitute (V/L)  for E in the above equation of current density.

Substitute iR for V in equation (1)

Substitute 1.69 × 10⁸ Ω .m for p

50A for i

0.200Ω.km⁻¹ for (R/L) in eqn (2)

The magnitude JJ of the current density for a copper cable is 5.91 × 10⁵A.m⁻²

b) The expression for resistivity of the conductor is,

The expression for mass density of copper is,

m = dV

where, V is the density of the copper.

Substitute AL for V in equation of the mass density of copper.

m=d(AL)

m/L = dA

λ is use for (m/L)

substitute,

pL/R for A  and λ is use for (m/L) in the eqn above

Substitute 0.200Ω.km⁻¹ for (R/L)

8960kgm⁻³  for d and 1.69 × 10⁸ Ω .m

c) Using the equation (2) current density for aluminum cable is,

p is the resistivity of the aluminum cable.

Substitute 2.82 × 10⁻⁸Ω.m for p ,

50A for i and 0.200Ω.km⁻¹ for (R/L)

The magnitude J of the current density for an aluminum cable is 3.5 × 10⁵A/m²

d) Using the equation (3) mass per unit length for aluminum cable is,

p is the resistivity and is the density of the aluminum cable.

Substitute 0.200Ω.km⁻¹ for (R/L), 2700 for d and 2.82 × 10⁻⁸Ω.m for p

The mass per unit length \lambdaλ for an aluminum cable is 0.380kg/m