When current flows through a resistance, what happens to the conductor?

When current flows through a resistance, what happens to the conductor?

• A. Heat is produced
• B. Cool is produced
• C. Magnetizes
• D. Illuminates

Answer: (A)

Resistors convert electrical energy into heat. As current flows, electrons collide with atoms in the conductor, transferring energy to the lattice and warming the material. The rate of heat produced is P = I^2R (or V^2/R), so more current or higher resistance means more heat. The conductor isn’t coolened by this process, and while current creates a magnetic field around the wire, that doesn’t change the conductor itself in this context, and illumination only happens if the power is high enough to make the material glow. So heat is produced.

Resistors convert electrical energy into heat. As current flows, electrons collide with atoms in the conductor, transferring energy to the lattice and warming the material. The rate of heat produced is P = I^2R (or V^2/R), so more current or higher resistance means more heat. The conductor isn’t coolened by this process, and while current creates a magnetic field around the wire, that doesn’t change the conductor itself in this context, and illumination only happens if the power is high enough to make the material glow. So heat is produced.