A household junction box distributes 120 V (rms) electrical power to two kitchen appliances connected in parallel: a toaster with an effective resistance of 8.0 Ω and an electric kettle with an effective resistance of 16.0 Ω. The supply conductor feeding the junction box is protected by a 15 A circuit breaker.
Address the following tasks.
(a) Calculate the steady-state current drawn by each appliance when both are operating simultaneously.
(b) Determine the total current in the supply conductor.
(c) Based on your answer to part (b), evaluate whether the 15 A breaker will trip. Explain your reasoning.
(d) Describe a safe experimental procedure, including meter placement and precautionary steps, that a technician could use to verify the current distribution calculated in parts (a) and (b) without exceeding safety limits.