Course AC 6 – Basic Electrical Engineering

Sem/AY First Semester/2020-2021

Module No. 3
Lesson Title Heating effect of electric current
Week
4
Duration
Date
Description This lesson is focused on the discussion on the factors that affect the electric circuit
of the due to the effect of current flowing to it. What are the mitigating factors used to
Lesson harness the heating effect of current?

Learning Outcomes

Intended Students should be able to meet the following intended learning outcomes:
Learning ● To understand the effect of electric current on an electrical circuit.
Outcomes ● To understand the relationship between current, resistance and time.
.
Targets/ At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
Objectives ● Know the basic example of heating effects of electric current in our everyday
life.
● Understand the factors that affect the production of heat in a medium through
which an electric current flow.

Student Learning Strategies

Online Activities A. Online Discussion via Google Meet

(Synchronous/ You will be directed to attend in a two-hour class discussion on Ohm’s
Asynchronous) Law, Electrical Power and Electrical Energy. To have access to the online
discussion, refer to this link: ____________________.

The online discussion will happen on , from

(For further instructions, refer to your Google Classroom and see the
schedule of activities for this module)

Some useful links for YouTube lectures:

https://www.slideshare.net/sheebabhagiavahy/heating-effect-of-
current
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrpBBZmaWf4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neEvi0AFkcA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNISEh9l40o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93AVPN747O8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzhxqhPBSIY
 B. Learning Guide Questions:
1. What are the heating effects of electric current? Are the effects helpful
or harmful to human lives?
2. What is the relationship between current, voltage and resistance to this
effect?
3. How this heating effect related to power and energy?

Note: The insight that you will post on online discussion forum using Learning
Management System (LMS) will receive additional scores in class participation.

Offline Activities Lecture Guide

(e-Learning/Self-
Paced) In our daily life we make use of different forms of energy, of these, electricity is
the most useful and indispensable. It is the only form which can be
conveniently converted into any other form of energy to suit our various needs.
Electricity is so intimately connected to our life. We cannot imagine a world
without it. All electrical devices depend upon one or more effects of electric
current. They are chemical effect, heating effect, lighting effect, magnetic effect
and mechanical effect. Here we will study the heating effect of electricity, or
should we say the electric current.
Let us examine through an experiment how we can find out the amount of heat
energy produced in a current carrying conductor. And also, the factors
depending on it. Two small pieces of thin aluminium wire and nichrome wire
of nearly equal length and thickness are connected in series to a 6V battery
using copper conductor. Pass an electric current through the circuit for some
time. What do you observe? Nichrome wire becomes red hot.
Why is the nichrome wire red hot while the aluminium wire is not so? Though
the magnitude of current in each wire is the same why does the nichrome wire
alone become red hot? The resistance of the nichrome wire (R) is greater than
that of aluminium wire. So, we understand that a conductor of high resistance
can convert more electric energy into heat energy.

When current flows through a conductor, heat energy is generated in the

conductor. The heating effect of an electric current depends on three factors:

● The resistance, R of the conductor. A higher resistance produces more

heat.
● The time, t for which current flows. The longer the time the larger the
amount of heat produced
● The amount of current, I. The higher the current the larger the amount
of heat generated.
This is studied by James Prescott Joule and he enunciated various factors that
affect the heat generated. The heat produced by a heating element is directly
proportional to the square of the electric current (I) passing through the
conductor, directly proportional to the resistance (R) of the conductor, time (t)
for which current passes through the conductor.
Hence the heating effect produced by an electric current, I through a conductor
of resistance, R for a time, t is given by H = I 2Rt. This equation is called the
Joule’s equation of electrical heating.

Q = I2Rt = Pt
Brief History…
James Prescott Joule (24 December 1818 – 11 October 1889) was an English
physicist, mathematician and brewer, born in Salford, Lancashire. Joule studied
the nature of heat, and discovered its relationship to mechanical work (see
energy). This led to the law of conservation of energy, which in turn led to the
development of the first law of
thermodynamics. The SI derived unit of energy,
the joule, is named after him.

He worked with Lord Kelvin to develop an

absolute thermodynamic temperature scale,
which came to be called the Kelvin scale. Joule
also made observations of magnetostriction,
and he found the relationship between the
current through a resistor and the heat
dissipated, which is also called Joule's first law.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Prescott_Joule
His experiments about energy transformations were first published in 1843.

Joule's law
If I is the current in ampere (A), R the resistance of the conductor in ohm (Ω), t
the time in seconds (s) then the heat H produced in joule (J), is

H = I2Rt, joule
Derivation of Formula

To calculate the heat produced in a conductor, consider current I is flowing

through a conductor AB of resistance R for time t. also consider that the
potential difference applied across its two ends is V.

Now, total amount of work done in moving a charge q from point A to B is given
by:
W = q x V ……. Eq. 1

Now, we know that charge = current × time

or q = I X t
and V = I X R (Ohm’s law)

Putting the values of q and V in equation (1), we get

 W = (I X t) X (I X R)
Or W = I2Rt,

Now, assuming that all the work done is converted into heat energy we can
replace symbol of ‘work done’ with that of ‘heat produced’. So,

H = I2RT

Example:

1. Find the heat energy produced in a resistance of 10 Ω when 5 A current

flows through it for 5 minutes.
Solution
R = 10 Ω, I = 5 A, t = 5 minutes = 5 min× 60 s/ 1 min
H = I2 R t
= 52 × 10 × 5 × 60
=25 × 10 × 300
=25 × 3000
=75000 J (or) 75 kJ

2. Calculate the heat energy produced in resistance of 5 Ω when 3 A

current flows through it for 2 minutes.
Solution
The amount of heat produced by the conductor is given by the
formula:
H = I2 R T
Substituting the values in the above equation we get
H = 32× 5 × 2 × 60 = 5400 J or 5.4kJ
3. A heater of resistance 300 Ω is connected to the main supply for 30
mins. If 10 A current flows through the filament of the heater then what
is the heat produced in the heater?
Solution
The amount of heat produced by the heater is calculated as follows:
H = I2RT
substituting the values in the equation, we get
H = 102 × 300 × 30 × 60 = 54000000 J or 54 MJ.

4. An electric heater of resistance 10 Ω connected to 220 V power supply is

immersed in the water of 1 kg. How long the electrical heater has to be
switched on to increase its temperature from 30°C to 60°C. (The specific
 heat of water is s = 4200 J/kg)
Solution
According to Joule’s heating law H = I2 Rt
The current passed through the electrical heater = 220V/10Ω = 22 A, I = V/R
The heat produced in one second by the electrical heater H = I 2 R
The heat produced in one second H = (22)2 x 10 = 4840 J = 4.84 k J.
In fact, the power rating of this electrical heater is 4.84 k W.
The amount of energy to increase the temperature of 1kg water from 30°C to
60°C is Q = ms ∆T
Here m = 1 kg, (mass)
s = 4200 J kg-1 or J/kg(specific heat)
∆T = 30,(change in temperature)(final temp – initial temp)
so Q = 1 × 4200 x 30 = 126 kJ
The time required to produce this heat energy
Q or H = I2Rt
t = Q/ I2R
= 126 ×10 3 /4840
  ≈ 26 .03 s

Applications of heating effect of electric current

Most household electrical appliances convert electrical energy into heat by this
means. These include filament lamps, electric heater, electric iron, electric
kettle, etc.

In lighting appliances

1. Filament lamps- it is made of a tungsten wire enclosed in a glass bulb

from which air has been removed. This is because air would oxidize the
filament. The filament is heated up to a high temperature and becomes
white hot. Tungsten is used due its high melting point; 34000 The bulb
is filled with an inactive gas e.g. argon or nitrogen at low pressure which
reduces evaporation of the tungsten wire. However, one disadvantage of
the inert gas is that it causes convection currents which cool the
filament. This problem is minimized by coiling the wire so that it
occupies a smaller area which reduces heat loss through convection.
2. Fluorescent lamps- these lamps are more efficient compared to filament
lamps and last much longer. They have mercury vapour in the glass tube
which emits ultraviolet radiation when switched on. This radiation
causes the powder in the tube to glow (fluoresce) i.e. emits visible light.
Different powders produce different colours. Note that fluorescent
lamps are expensive to install but their running cost is much less.

In electrical heating
 1. Electric cookers- electric cookers turn red hot and the heat energy
produced is absorbed by the cooking pot through conduction.
2. Electric heaters- radiant heaters turn red at about 9000C and the
radiation emitted is directed into the room by polished reflectors.
3. Electric kettles- the heating element is placed at the bottom of the kettle
so that the liquid being heated covers it. The heat is then absorbed by
water and distributed throughout the whole liquid by convection.
4. Electric irons- when current flows through the heating element, the heat
energy developed is conducted to the heavy metal base raising its
temperature. This energy is then used to press clothes. The temperature
of the electric iron can be controlled using a thermostat (a bimetallic
strip).
   

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0rP7t93G6SY/W6UWyToprCI/AAAAAAAADK8/Wyd3jw9gdDANXv3ACx2aiLdRUeg6uzERACLcBGAs/s1600/Electric%2Bappliancess.jpg

How electric current affects the electric energy and power

The rate of doing work is called power. This is also the rate of consumption of

energy. The equation H = I2 Rt gives the rate at which electric energy is
dissipated or consumed in an electric circuit. This is also termed as electric
power. The power P is given by P = VI. Or P = I 2R = V2/R.  The SI unit of electric
power is watt (W). It is the power consumed by a device that carries 1 A of
current when operated at a potential difference of 1 V. 1 W = 1 volt × 1 ampere
= 1 V A. The unit ‘watt’ is very small. Therefore, in actual practice we use a
much larger unit called ‘kilowatt’. It is equal to 1000 watts. Since electrical
energy is the product of power and time, the unit of electric energy is,
therefore, watt hour (W h). One watt hour is the energy consumed when1 watt
of power is used for 1 hour. The commercial unit of electric energy is kilowatt
hour (kW h), commonly known as ‘unit’. 1 kW h = 1000 watt × 3600 second =
3.6 × 106 watt second = 3.6 × 106 joule (J).

Example:
1. An electrical bulb is labeled 100W, 240V. Calculate:
a)The current through the filament when the bulb works normally
b)The resistance of the filament used in the bulb.
Solution
I = P/V = 100/240 = 0.4167A or 0.42A
R = P/I2 = 100/ 0.41672 = 576.04Ω or 576 Ω
or R = V2/P =2402/100 = 576Ω

2. Find the energy dissipated in 5 minutes by an electric bulb with a

filament of resistance of 500Ω connected to a 240V supply.
Solution
W = kWhr= E = Pt = (V2/R )*t = (2402/500) *5*60 = 34,560J or 34.56 kJ

3. A 2.5 kW immersion heater is used to heat water. Calculate:

The operating voltage of the heater if its resistance is 24Ω.
The electrical energy converted to heat energy in 2 hours.

Solution
P=VI=I2R
P
I=
√ R
I = (2500/24)1/2 =10.2062A
V=IR= 10.2062 * 24 = 244.9488V = 245V
E = VIt = Pt = 2500*2*60*60 = 1.8 x 107J
Or E= VIt = 244.9488 * 10.2062 * 2 * 60 * 60 = 1.8 x 107J

4. An electric bulb is labeled 100W, 240V. Calculate:

The current through the filament
The resistance of the filament used in the bulb.
Solution
P = VI
I = P/V = 100/240 =0.4167A
From Ohm’s law,
V =IR
R=V/I =240/0.4167 = 575.95Ω

5. How much heat is produced by 2 kW electric heater when it is operated

for 30 minutes.
Solution:
Heat Produced, H = Rating in kW x times of operation
H = 2 kW*0.5 hour = 1 kWh
H = 36×105joules 3.6 x 106 joules or 860 kca
Note:
1 watt-hour = 3600 Joules
1 kilocalorie(kca) = 4148 Joules

6. Find the heat energy produced in a resistance of 10 Ω when 5 A current

flows through it for 5 minutes.
Solution
R = 10 Ω, I = 5 A, t = 5 minutes = 5 × 60 s
H = I2 R t
= 52 × 10 × 5 × 60
=25 × 10 × 300
=25 × 3000
=75000 J (or) 75 kJ

Conversion of temperature differences into electrical voltage and

vice versa is known as thermoelectric effect. 

A thermoelectric device generates voltage when there is a temperature

difference on each side. If a voltage is applied, it generates a temperature
difference.
 
1. Seebeck effect
Seebeck discovered that in a closed circuit consisting of two dissimilar metals,
when the junctions are maintained at different temperatures an emf (potential
difference) is developed. The current that flows due to the emf developed is
called thermoelectric current. The two dissimilar metals connected to form two
junctions is known as thermocouple.

If the hot and cold junctions are interchanged, the direction of current also
reverses. Hence the effect is reversible.
The magnitude of the emf developed in a thermocouple depends on (i) the
nature of the metals forming the couple and (ii) the temperature difference
between the junctions.

https://img.brainkart.com/extra3/ezE6nVN.jpg

Applications of Seebeck effect

1. Seebeck effect is used in thermoelectric generators (Seebeck generators).
These thermoelectric generators are used in power plants to convert waste
heat into electricity.
2. This effect is utilized in automobiles as automotive thermoelectric
generators for increasing fuel efficiency.
3. Seebeck effect is used in thermocouples and thermopiles to measure the
temperature difference between the two objects.
 
2. Peltier effect
In 1834, Peltier discovered that when an electric current is passed through a
circuit of a thermocouple, heat is evolved at one junction and absorbed at the
other junction. This is known as Peltier effect.

http://img.brainkart.com/extra3/na5VH1d.jpg

In the Cu-Fe thermocouple the junctions A and B are maintained at the same
temperature. Let a current from a battery flow through the thermocouple. At
the junction A, where the current flows from Cu to Fe, heat is absorbed and the
junction A becomes cold. At the junction B, where the current flows from Fe to
Cu heat is liberated and it becomes hot. When the direction of current is
reversed, junction A gets heated and junction B gets cooled as shown. Hence
Peltier effect is reversible.
 
3. Thomson effect
Thomson showed that if two points in a conductor are at different
temperatures, the density of electrons at these points will differ and as a result
the potential difference is created between these points. Thomson effect is also
reversible.

http://img.brainkart.com/extra3/myqlzKg.jpg
If current is passed through a copper bar AB which is heated at the middle
point C, the point C will be at higher potential. This indicates that the heat is
absorbed along AC and evolved along CB of the conductor as shown. Thus, heat
is transferred due to the current flow in the direction of the current. It is called
positive Thomson effect. Similar effect is observed in metals like silver, zinc,
and cadmium.
When the copper bar is replaced by an iron bar, heat is evolved along CA and
absorbed along BC. Thus, heat is transferred due to the current flow in the
direction opposite to the direction of current. It is called the negative Thomson
effect as shown. Similar effect is observed in metals like platinum, nickel,
cobalt, and mercury.
 Performance Tasks
PT 3
I. Solve the following problems. Show your complete solution. Encircle your final answer. Each
problem is worth ten (10) points.

1. An electric heater of resistance 10 Ω connected to 220 V power supply is immersed in the

water of 1 kg. How long the electrical heater has to be switched on to increase its
temperature from 30°C to 60°C. (The specific heat of water is s = 4200 J kg -1).
2. An electrical bulb is labeled 100W, 240V. Calculate:
a)The current through the filament when the bulb works normally
b)The resistance of the filament used in the bulb.
3. A 2.5 kW immersion heater is used to heat water. Calculate:
a)The operating voltage of the heater if its resistance is 24Ω
b)The electrical energy converted to heat energy in 2 hours.
4. How much heat is produced by 2 kW electric heater when it is operated for 30 minutes.

Learning Resources

References
Boylestad, R. (2015). Introductory Circuit Analysis, 13th Edition. Pearson.
Hayt, J. e. (n.d.). Engineering circuit Analysis, 7th Edition. 2007: McGraw-Hill Education.
Romeo A. Rojas, J. (n.d.). 1001 Solved Problems in Electrical Engineering.
Sadiku. (2007). Fundamentals of Electric Circuit, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill Education.
Theraja, B. L. (2005). A textbook of Electrical Technology Volume 1. S. Chand and Co. Ltd.
V. K. Mehta, R. M. (2008). Basic Electrical Engineering, Revised Edition. S. Chand and Co. Pvt. Ltd.

https://www.slideshare.net/ASMBadrudduza/circuit-variables-and-elements-73223510
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/direct-current/
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/alternating-current/
https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-electric-current-definition-unit-types.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_energy
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/20-4-electric-power-and-energy/
https://ppt-online.org/22777

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