To determine which circuit has the greatest electric current, we can use Ohm's Law, which states:
\[ I = \frac{V}{R} \]
where \( I \) is the current (in amperes), \( V \) is the voltage (in volts), and \( R \) is the resistance (in ohms).
Now, let's calculate the current for each circuit:
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Circuit 1:
- Resistance \( R = 0.5 , \text{ohms} \)
- Voltage \( V = 20 , \text{V} \)
- Current \( I_1 = \frac{20}{0.5} = 40 , \text{A} \)
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Circuit 2:
- Resistance \( R = 0.5 , \text{ohms} \)
- Voltage \( V = 40 , \text{V} \)
- Current \( I_2 = \frac{40}{0.5} = 80 , \text{A} \)
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Circuit 3:
- Resistance \( R = 0.25 , \text{ohms} \)
- Voltage \( V = 40 , \text{V} \)
- Current \( I_3 = \frac{40}{0.25} = 160 , \text{A} \)
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Circuit 4:
- Resistance \( R = 0.25 , \text{ohms} \)
- Voltage \( V = 60 , \text{V} \)
- Current \( I_4 = \frac{60}{0.25} = 240 , \text{A} \)
Now, comparing the calculated currents:
- Circuit 1: 40 A
- Circuit 2: 80 A
- Circuit 3: 160 A
- Circuit 4: 240 A
The circuit with the greatest electric current is Circuit 4, with a current of 240 A.