Verified Solution Science Electricity: Magnetic and Heating Effects

An electrician is wiring a new house and needs to choose materials for both the main connecting wires and the fuse wire. Why would he choose copper for connecting wires and an alloy like tin-lead for the fuse wire, despite both carrying current?

6 views 1 helpful Updated Jun 30, 2026
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Answer

Copper is chosen for connecting wires because it has very low electrical resistance, minimizing energy loss as heat. Fuse wire, made of a tin-lead alloy, has a low melting point and relatively higher resistance. This ensures it melts quickly and breaks the circuit when an excessive, unsafe current flows, protecting appliances from damage due to the heating effect of current.

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