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One way to look at the purpose of a resistor is as a device built to dissipate
electrical energy. Some (but usually not all) of the energy of the current through
a circuit is always dissipated when it flows through a resistor. The energy lost
leaves the resistor in the form of heat.

The number of joules of electrical energy lost and heat dissipated by the resistor is

(amperes of current through the resistor)2 x (ohms of resistance) x (seconds of time it continues)

If you work with resistors often, or see several of them inside an old radio, you notice
that there are physically big ones and physically small ones. The size of the resistor
isn't related to the number of ohms of resistance it has. The physical size is related
to how fast it can dissipate energy (heat) without melting or burning up. A bigger
resistor has more air around it, so it can get rid of heat faster.

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12y ago

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Related Questions

How can I find the energy dissipated in the resistor?

To find the energy dissipated in a resistor, you can use the formula: Energy (current)2 x resistance x time. This formula calculates the energy dissipated in the resistor based on the current flowing through it, the resistance of the resistor, and the time the current flows.


What changes electrical energy to heat energy?

A resistor.


What does a resistor do in in a circuit?

A resistor is a device that impedes or limits the flow of electrical current in a circuit. It converts the current's electrical energy into heat (thermal) energy. A resistor reduces the amount of energy in a circuit and pumps it out as a heat.


Does a resistor use electrical energy as it interferes with the flow of charge?

Yes, a resistor converts electrical energy into heat as it interferes with the flow of charge. This energy is dissipated in the form of heat due to the resistance of the resistor material.


What do a resistor do in a circuit?

A resistor is a device that impedes or limits the flow of electrical current in a circuit. It converts the current's electrical energy into heat (thermal) energy. A resistor reduces the amount of energy in a circuit and pumps it out as a heat.


Why does a resistor get hot when electricity passes through it?

A resistor gets hot when electricity passes through it because the resistance in the resistor causes some of the electrical energy to be converted into heat energy. This heat energy is dissipated as the resistor resists the flow of electricity, leading to an increase in temperature.


What energy transfer takes place when the current passes through a resistor?

When current passes through a resistor, electrical energy is converted into heat energy, which causes the resistor to heat up. This process is known as Joule heating.


How is the energy dissipated by the resistor in an RC circuit calculated?

The energy dissipated by a resistor in an RC circuit is calculated using the formula: Energy 0.5 C V2, where C is the capacitance of the circuit and V is the voltage across the resistor.


What does it mean when you say that energy is lost in a resistor?

When energy is lost in a resistor, it means that some of the electrical energy is converted into heat energy as the electrons move through the resistor. This loss of energy is due to the resistance in the material, which causes the electrons to collide with atoms and lose energy in the form of heat.


What is the name for an electrical load that converts electrical energy into heat energy?

The name for an electrical load that converts electrical energy into heat energy is a resistor. Resistor works by resisting the flow of electricity through a circuit, which in turn generates heat as a byproduct.


How do you use resistor in a sentence?

I installed a resistor inline with my oil pressure sensor. The resistor in a circuit will usually disperse energy as heat.


Is a battery a resistor if not what is?

No, a battery is not a resistor. A battery provides electrical energy, while a resistor is a component that restricts the flow of current in a circuit.