A vending machine is connected to the mains electricity supply.
What is the frequency and the potential difference of the mains electricity supply in the UK?
How to approach this question
This is a recall question. You need to remember the standard values for the UK mains electricity supply.
Full Answer
Frequency = 50 Hz
Potential difference = 230 V
The mains electricity supply in the United Kingdom has standard characteristics. It is an alternating current (AC) supply.
- **Frequency:** The direction of the current changes back and forth 50 times every second. Therefore, the frequency is 50 Hertz (Hz).
- **Potential Difference:** The effective potential difference (voltage) of the UK mains supply is 230 Volts (V).
Common mistakes
✗ Mixing up the values for frequency and potential difference.
✗ Giving incorrect values, e.g., values for other countries (like 110V or 60Hz).
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