According to Joule’s law, the heat produced in a resistor is directly proportional to the square of the current. This implies that if the current through a resistor is doubled, the heat produced will increase fourfold.
How is the heat produced in a resistor related to the square of the current, according to Joule’s law?
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According to Joule’s law, the heat produced in a resistor is directly proportional to the square of the current passing through it. Mathematically, Joule’s law is expressed as P = I²R, where P is the power (heat), I is the current, and R is the resistance of the resistor. The square of the current (I²) emphasizes a nonlinear relationship, meaning that even a small increase in current results in a disproportionately larger increase in heat generation. This fundamental relationship highlights the importance of controlling current in circuits to manage and minimize resistive heating, particularly in applications where efficiency and energy conservation are critical.