A portable electric space heater is labeled “1.35 kW, 120 V.” During operation in a home, the potential difference supplied by the wall outlet remains very nearly constant at 120V. Assume the heater behaves as a simple resistive load.
(a) Calculate the current drawn by the heater when it is operating at its labeled conditions. Express your result with appropriate units.
(b) Determine the electrical resistance of the heating element inside the device.
(c) At a remote cabin the same heater is powered by a small generator that can maintain only 100V across the heater. Assuming the resistance of the element is unchanged, calculate the new power output of the heater under these conditions.
(d) Discuss one practical implication of your result in part (c) for the user who relies on the heater to warm the cabin.