Why do things get hot when electricity is pasted through them?

Electricity is the flow of electrons through a material. But for electrons to pass through a material they have to give up some energy, this is called a material's resistance. The energy that is lost from the flow of electrons, due to a material's resistance, is passed onto the material in the form of heat, which makes the material hotter.

Answered by Peter R. Physics tutor

1543 Views

See similar Physics GCSE tutors

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Describe an experiment to determine the spring constant of a spring? Your answer should include any causes of inaccuracy.


On a pirate ship, a 1.6m plank is held at one end to the ship. A 65kg pirate walks the plank with his 1.1kg parrot following 40cm behind him. What is the total clockwise moment acting on the plank when the pirate reaches the end of it?


The potential difference in a circuit is 5V. There are two resistors connected in series of resistance 10 Ohms. Calculate the current I in the circuit.


How is a PET scanner able to locate a tumour in the patient's body?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences