A contractor operates a 1800W circular saw from a standard 120V outlet using a 25m extension cord. The two conductors in the cord together have a total resistance of 0.40Ω. Treat the saw as a purely resistive load whose internal resistance does not change.
(a) Determine the current drawn by the saw when it receives its rated power at 120V with no extension cord attached.
(b) With the extension cord in place, calculate the power dissipated as thermal energy in the cord itself while the saw is running.
(c) Find the potential difference actually delivered to the saw during operation with the cord attached.
(d) Discuss how the reduced voltage in part (c) affects both the mechanical performance of the saw and the overall electrical safety of the setup. Reference your quantitative results in your explanation.