Question

Name the effect of electric current used in the heater.

Answer 1

1. When an electric current is passed through a coil of an electric heater (conductor), it generates heat due to the hindrance caused by the conductor to the flowing current.
2. The work done in overcoming the hindrance to the current generates heat in that conductor.

The heating effect of an electric current depends on three factors-

1. The resistance, $R$ of the conductor. A higher resistance produces more heat.
2. The time, $t$ for which current flows. The longer the time, the larger the amount of heat produced.
3. The amount of current $I$. The higher the current, the larger the amount of heat generated.
4. Mathematically, we can see that heat produced in the conductor is given by $H=i^{2}Rt$, where $H$ is the heat energy.

Hence, the heating effect produced by an electric current in an electric heater is called Joule’s heating effect.