Car Battery Circuit: Current Through Starter & Dead Battery

In summary, a car battery can die due to age, extreme temperatures, and leaving electronics on while the car is not running. Current flows through a car battery circuit from the positive terminal, through the starter, and back to the negative terminal. When there is no current flowing, the engine will not start. To test the current, a multimeter can be used. A dead battery affects the current in a car battery circuit as it cannot provide enough power to start the engine and can cause other electrical issues.
  • #1
kdspuhler
3
0

Homework Statement


Two parts:

With the jumper cables attached, how much current passes through the starter motor?

With the jumper cables attached, how much current passes through the dead battery?


Homework Equations


Ohm's Law and Kirchhoff's Laws


The Attempt at a Solution


Well I've already figured out that the good battery can supply the starter motor with a 200A current and the dead battery can provide it with a 14.5A current. I found both of these answers using Kirchhoff's Loop Law. I'm honestly lost from here though.

http://session.masteringphysics.com/problemAsset/1075293/4/32.P68.jpg
 
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  • #2
Show your work so far.
 

1. What causes a car battery to die?

A car battery can die due to a variety of reasons, including age, extreme temperatures, and leaving headlights or other electronics on while the car is not running. Lack of maintenance and overuse can also contribute to a dead battery.

2. How does current flow through a car battery circuit?

In a car battery circuit, current flows from the positive terminal of the battery through the starter and back to the negative terminal. This creates a complete circuit and allows for the starter to turn the engine over.

3. What happens when there is no current flowing through the starter?

When there is no current flowing through the starter, the engine will not start. This can be due to a dead battery, a faulty starter, or other issues within the car's electrical system.

4. How can I test the current in a car battery circuit?

You can test the current in a car battery circuit using a multimeter. Set the multimeter to measure DC current and connect the leads to the positive and negative terminals of the battery. The reading should be around 12 volts for a fully charged battery.

5. Why does a dead battery affect the current in a car battery circuit?

A dead battery cannot provide the necessary voltage and current to power the starter and turn the engine over. This can also cause other components in the car's electrical system to malfunction due to insufficient power.

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