How Do You Determine Net Charge Through a Wire Over Time?

[snoggerT]

The figure below shows plots of the current i through a certain cross section of a wire over four different time periods. Rank the periods according to the net charge that passes through the cross section during the period, greatest first. (Use only the symbols > or =, for example a>b=c>d.)

i=dq/dt

The Attempt at a Solution

- I'm really not sure how to start this problem. I tried taking the charge and dividing it by the time for each one, but that didn't work. Would you have to do the integrals for them? Seems like this should be a very simple problem.

 

[Dick]

Sure. Integrate current over time. That's charge.