Applications of Heating Effect of Electric Current

Physics

result

Applications of heating effect of current

Some common applications of heating effects of electric current are electrical laundry iron, toaster, heater, electrical bulb and fuses.

example

Electric Fuse

Electric fuse protects circuits and appliances by stopping the flow of unduly high electric current. It is placed in series with the device. It consists of a piece of wire made of a metal or an alloy of appropriate melting point, i.e, aluminium, copper, iron, lead etc. If a current larger than the specified value flows through the circuit, the temperature of the fuse wire increases. This melts the fuse wire and breaks the circuit. The fuses used for domestic purposes are rated as 1 A, 2 A, 3 A, 5 A, 10 A, etc. 

definition

Describe the material used to make heating coils and state its advantages

Heating coils are made of nichrome. Nichrome is an alloy of nickel, chromium, iron and manganese.
The advantages of nichrome are made use of in electric heating appliances are as follows:
  • high resistivity
  • high melting point
  • ability to remain in red hot condition for long time without getting oxidised