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Wire Types and Sizes
16 questions By Tony R. Kuphaldt
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Question 10 of 16
Describe what electrical conduit is, and what applications it is commonly used in. Contrast “conduit” against raceways and wire trays.
Reveal answer“Conduit” is large-diameter metal tubing used as pathways for electrical wires and cables.
Notes:If you happen to have pieces of conduit available for demonstration, show them to your students during discussion time. Better yet, take them to a place where they can see electrical conduit in use!
Be sure to ask them questions about the other methods (raceways, wire trays) of laying wire, and how these methods compare with rigid conduit.
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Question 11 of 16
What is a busbar?
Reveal answerA “busbar” is a conductor of unusually large cross-sectional area.
Notes:Ask your students to describe possible applications for busbars. Where would they typically encounter such huge conductors of electricity?
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Question 12 of 16
The cross-sectional area of wires is often measured in units of circular mils rather than square inches or other common area units. Explain how the “circular mil” is defined, and how it is calculated for round wires.
Reveal answerThe “circular mil” is defined as the area of a circle with a diameter of [1/1000] inch (a diameter of one mil).
Notes:Explain how this is analogous to the “square inch” being defined as the area of a square measuring one inch on a side. If you need to approach the definition in smaller conceptual steps, you might want to first define what a “circular inch” is before you define what a “circular mil” is.
