Fundamentals of Physics

What precaution must be taken to prevent such a fire?

The answer is in this chapter.

When a race car pulls in for a pit stop, the pit crew scurries to make any needed car adjustments and to refuel the car. The crew members pride themselves on their speed because even a fraction of a second wasted during the pit stop can cost the driver the race. However, rapid application of the fuel dispenser seems dangerous because the car may be charged to a potential of −30 kV when it arrives in the pit. If the car were to spark through any of the fuel vapor, a fire could break out.

27-1  What Is Physics?

You are surrounded by electric circuits. You might take pride in the number of electrical devices you own and might even carry a mental list of the devices you wish you owned. Every one of those devices, as well as the electrical grid that powers your home, depends on modern electrical engineering. We cannot easily estimate the current financial worth of electrical engineering and its products, but we can be certain that the financial worth continues to grow yearly as more and more tasks are handled electrically. Radios are now tuned electronically instead of manually. Messages are now sent by email instead of through the postal system. Research journals are now read on a computer instead of ...