What is the difference between electrostatic generator and power supply?

An electric generator at the South Texas Nu- clear Plant has a fixed power rating Pgen. In order to run equipm?

• An electric generator at the South Texas Nu- clear Plant has a fixed power rating Pgen. In order to run equipment in Austin, this power must be transmitted over cables which have resistance R. You can design the generator to operate either at a high voltage of 10,000 V or at low voltage of 120 V. In order to power Austin most efficiently (i.e. minimize “ohmic” heat losses in the cable), it is preferable to 1. operate the generator at high voltage. 2. operate the generator at low voltage. 3. neither; it makes no difference.

• Answer:

  1. operate the generator at high voltage. -Heat loss is due to (current)^2 * resistance * time -Current and voltage are inversely related to each other -so for a low voltage, I is high (b/c current = voltage/resistance) and for a High voltage, I is low (we don't factor in resistance b/c it is held constant in this problem) -->therefore: a LOW I (ie. current) will minimize "ohmic" heat loss Hope that makes sense!