A blow-dryer and a vacuum cleaner each operate with a voltage of 120 V. The current rating of the blow-dryer is 12 A, while that of the vacuum cleaner is 4.7 A. Determine the power consumed by (a) the blow-dryer and (b) the vacuum cleaner. (c) Determine the ratio of the energy used by the blow-dryer in 20 minutes to the energy used by the vacuum cleaner in 46 minutes.

a) 1450watts

b) 564watts

c) 1.11

Explanation:

Power consumed = IV

I is the current rating

V is the operating voltage

If a blow-dryer and a vacuum cleaner each operate with a voltage of 120 V and the current rating of the blow-dryer is 12 A, while that of the vacuum cleaner is 4.7 A then their individual power rating is calculated thus;

a) For blow-dryer

Operating voltage = 120V

Its current rating = 12A

Power consumed = IV

= 120×12

= 1440watts

b) For vacuum cleaner:

Operating voltage is the same as that of blow dryer = 120V

Its current rating = 4.7A

Power consumed = IV

= 120×4.7

= 564watts

c) Energy used = Power consumed × time taken

Energy used = Power × time

Energy used by blow dryer = 1440×20×60

= 1,728,000Joules

Energy used up by vacuum cleaner = 564×46×60

= 564×2760

= 1,556,640Joules

Ratio of the energy used by the blow-dryer in 20 minutes to the energy used by the vacuum cleaner in 46 minutes will be 1,728,000/1,556,640 = 1.11