Nichrome Resistor and Copper wire

[hime]

Homework Statement

A 10 ohms Nichrome resistor is wired into an electronic circuit using copper leads (wires) of diameter 0.6 mm with a total length of 50 cm. The additional resistance is due to the copper leads is 0.03 ohms.

What change in temperature would produce a change in resistance of the Nichrome-wire equal to the resistance of the copper leads?

Homework Equations

RCu = 0.03[1 + aCu(tC – 20)]= change in Rw = 10aw(tC – 20); solve for tC
aCu at 20 degree C= 3.9 x 10^-3
aw at 20 degree C = 4.3 x 10^-3

The Attempt at a Solution

0.03[1 + aCu(tC – 20)] = 10aw(tC – 20)
I solved for tc and got 30.6 C but it is not the right answer so please help.

 

[Redbelly98]

Welcome to PF

30.6 C does not solve the last equation you wrote. There must have been some algebra error made after that.

You are on the right track, try again. You can check your answer by substituting it into your equation,

0.03[1 + aCu(tC – 20)] = 10aw(tC – 20)