Ch – 11, ELECTRICITY

NOTES PART 5

HEATING EFFECT OF ELECTRIC CURRENT

The production of heat energy in a conductor by the flow of electric current through it is called the
heating effect of electric current.

Some electrical appliances that work on the principle of heating effect of electric current are:

When electric current is passed through a high resistance wire, like nichrome wire, the resistance
wire becomes very hot and produces heat. This is called heating effect of current.

• DERIVATION FOR THE AMOUNT OF HEAT PRODUCED IN A RESISTOR IN TIME 't’

Introduction:

Consider a current ‘I’ flowing through a resistor of resistance ‘R’ for time ‘t’.

Let ‘V’ be the potential difference across it and

‘Q’ be the charge flowing through it in time t.

Proof:

The work done W in moving the charge Q through the potential difference V,
W=VQ
⸫ The energy E supplied by the source in time ‘t’,
E = W = VQ ---------------(1)
Hence, the power input (P) to the circuit by the source,
 W
P= T

VQ
P= (substituting from 1)
t

Q
But I = T

⸫ P = VI -----------------------(2)

The energy supplied by the source in a time t,

E=Pxt

E = VIt (substituting from 2)

This energy gets dissipated in the form of heat energy, H.

Thus, for a steady current I, the amount of heat energy H produced in time t,

H = VIt --------------------(3)

Applying Ohm’s law and substituting V = IR in equation 3,

H = IR x It

⸫ H= I2Rt

This expression is known as Joule’s law of heating.

JOULE’S LAW OF HEATING:

Joule’s law of heating states that the heat produced in a resistor is (i) directly proportional to
the square of the current for a given resistance, (ii) directly proportional to the resistance for a
given current, and (iii) directly proportional to the time for which the current flows through the
resistor. (H= I2Rt)

NOTE: The expression for heat energy can be given as:

H = VIt

H= I2Rt

H= V2t 𝑉
(by substituting I = 𝑅 in H = VIt)
R
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF HEATING EFFECT OF ELECTRIC CURRENT:

The heating effect of current is utilized in the working of many electrical heating appliances such as
electric bulb, iron, electric kettle, electric toaster, electric oven, room heaters, water heaters
(geysers), etc.

i) Electric Bulb: The heating effect of electric current is utilized in electric bulbs (electric
lamps) for illumination.
In an electric bulb, the filament of a fine metallic wire is enclosed in a glass bulb filled
with chemically in active gases like nitrogen or argon.
The filament material should have high melting point. It is generally, made of tungsten
metal, having high melting point equal to 3380°C. When electric current passes through
this very thin, high resistance tungsten filament of an electric bulb, the filament becomes
white-hot and emits light.
The filament is thermally isolated as much as possible, using insulating support, etc. The
bulb is usually filled with chemically inactive nitrogen and argon gases to prevent
oxidation of tungsten at high temperature and thus prolong the life of filament.

ii) Electric Fuse: It is safety device which protects circuits and appliances by stopping the
flow of any unduly high electric current.
The heating effect of electric current is utilized in electric fuse for protecting household
wiring and electrical appliances.
A fuse wire should have a low melting point and is usually made of a metal or an alloy
of appropriate melting point, for example aluminium, copper, iron, lead etc.
It is placed in series with the live wire of the domestic circuit.
If a current larger than the specified value flows through the circuit, the temperature of
the fuse wire increases. This melts the fuse wire and breaks the circuit. Thus, preventing
any damage to the electric appliances.
The fuses used for domestic purposes are rated as 1 A, 2 A, 3 A, 5 A, 10 A, etc.

For example, if an electric heater consumes 1000W at 220 V, to select the appropriate
rating of fuse wire in order to protect the heater from unduly high current:
The electric current drawn by the heater, I=P/V
I = 1000/220
I= 4.5 A
Thus, in this case a fuse wire of 5A should be used to protect the electric heater in the
case of flow of unduly high current.
 ELECTRIC POWER (P)

The rate at which electric energy is consumed in an electric circuit is known as electric power.
𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆
Electric Power = 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒏

𝑊
P= ------- (1)
𝑡

The work done W by the current I when it flows for time t under a potential difference V is given
by:

W = VIt ------- (2)

Putting this value of equation 2 in the equation 1, we get

P = VI

The SI unit of electric power is watt (W)

Definition of SI unit of electric power:

Power of an electric appliance is 1 watt if it consumes one joule of electrical energy in one second.

OR

Power of an electric circuit or applaince is 1 watt if 1A of current flows through it when operated
at a potential difference of 1V.

Note:

The power input P, to the circuit can be given as:

From H = VIt, P= VI

From H= I2Rt, P=I2R OR

𝐕𝟐 𝐕𝟐
From H= 𝒕 P=
𝑹 𝑹
COMMERCIAL UNIT OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY:

Commercial Unit of Electrical Energy is kilowatt hour (kWh) Or Unit.

1kWh is defined as the energy consumed when an electrical appliance of power 1000 W (or 1 kW)
is used for 1 hour.

Relationship between SI unit of energy (J) and commercial unit of energy (kWh or unit):

We have electrical energy, E= P x t

⸫ 1 kWh = 1kW x 1h

= 1000 W x 3600 s

= 3.6 x 106 Ws

⸫ 1 kWh = 3.6 x 106 J ( since J = Ws )

_______________________________________________________________________________
_______

Q. The electric power consumed by a device may be calculated by using either of the two
expressions: P=I2R or P = V2/R. The first expression indicates that the power is directly
proportional to R, whereas the second expression indicates inverse proportionality. How can the
seemingly different dependence of P and R in these expressions be explained?

Ans. P = I2R is used in the case of series circuit or when the current flowing in every component of
the circuit is constant. Here, the component with the highest resistance has the highest share of total
p.d. (V) making its power higher than the rest as P = VI.

P = V2/R is used in the case of parallel circuit or when the p.d. across every component of the circuit
is constant. Here, the component with the lowest resistance has the highest share of total current, I,
making its power higher than the rest as P = VI.