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.

PR

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

What does the term terminal velocity mean?


Circut is arranged in a loop, with resistor (5 ohm), power source(2V), resistor (3 ohm), and another power source (3V) connected subsequently. What is the voltage on 5ohm resistor?


(IGCSE, Jan 2013, q8 adapted) The astronaut David Scott dropped a hammer and a feather from rest, at the same time and from the same height on the moon. The hammer and the feather landed at the same time. Why?


A kettle is found to output 65J when its input energy is 100J. What is the efficiency of the kettle, and what happens to the rest of the energy?