When analyzing a power plant, which of the following is NOT considered a part of the system?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: In a power plant system, the components directly involved in the energy conversion process are considered part of the system. The fuel being burned provides the heat source, the working fluid transfers this heat energy, and the turbine converts it into mechanical energy to generate electricity. The surrounding air, while it may interact with the system, is not a component that directly participates in the energy conversion process within the power plant system. Therefore, the correct answer is D - The surrounding air. Choices A, B, and C are essential components of a power plant system as they play direct roles in the energy conversion process, unlike the surrounding air.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Refraction is the phenomenon by which light bends as it passes through a prism or any other medium boundary. When light transitions from one medium to another, such as air to glass in the case of a prism, it changes speed and direction due to the change in the medium's refractive index. This change in speed causes the light to bend. Reflection, on the other hand, is the bouncing back of light when it hits a surface. Diffraction refers to the bending of light around obstacles or through narrow openings. Electrical conduction involves the movement of electrically charged particles through a conductor, which is unrelated to the bending of light.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: When a dielectric material is inserted between the plates of a charged capacitor, the capacitance will increase. This is because the presence of a dielectric material reduces the electric field between the plates, allowing more charge to be stored for a given voltage, thus increasing the capacitance. Choice B is incorrect because adding a dielectric material increases capacitance. Choice C is incorrect because capacitance changes when a dielectric is added. Choice D is incorrect because the effect of a dielectric on capacitance is predictable.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction states that a changing magnetic field induces an electromotive force in a conductor. This electromotive force is responsible for generating electricity in power plants and various electrical devices. The induced current is a result of the changing magnetic field, not an increase in resistance (choice A), static electric charge (choice C), or a decrease in capacitance (choice D). Hence, the correct answer is B.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Joule (J). The joule is the SI unit used to quantify the transfer of energy due to an applied force. It is defined as the work done when a force of one newton is applied over a distance of one meter. Newton (N) is the unit of force, not energy transfer. Meter per second (m/s) is the unit of speed, not energy transfer. Kilogram (kg) is the unit of mass, not energy transfer. Therefore, the correct unit for quantifying the transfer of energy due to an applied force is the joule (J).