Question

cora, an electrician, wraps a copper wire with a thick plastic coating. what is she most likely trying to do?
keep the electric potential of the wire balanced
decrease the wires resistance
increase the voltage produced by the wire
keep a current from passing out of the wire

Explanation:

Plastic is an insulator. Insulators prevent the flow of electric current. Wrapping a copper wire (a conductor) with plastic coating (an insulator) would stop the current from passing out of the wire.

• For the option "keep the electric potential of the wire balanced", there is no relation between plastic coating and balancing electric potential.
• For "decrease the wire's resistance", resistance of a wire depends on its material (copper here), length, cross - sectional area and temperature. Plastic coating does not affect these factors related to resistance.
• For "increase the voltage produced by the wire", voltage in a wire (assuming it is part of a circuit) is determined by the power source in the circuit, not by a plastic coating.

Answer:

keep a current from passing out of the wire