Resistance in long
and thick wires |
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We read earlier that long
wires have high resistance while short wires have low resistance. Lets
revisit the analogy of electrons being tiny trucks carrying energy (voltage)
out from the battery and through a wire. Look at the animation below.
Trucks that travel through a long wire will use some of the energy they
carry to help them move along the wire. |
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Toasters
use wire of high resistance. Electrons give up a great deal of energy as
they move through this wire. Energy given off by the electrons turns to
heat. This is why toasters glow red hot when a current passes through the wire. |
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We can use our analogy to explain the production of heat. As the trucks travel through a narrow road they bump and collide with the sides of the road. They use a great deal of energy to get through this narrow, tough road. As they move along, constantly colliding, they create friction and the road heats up. How many bags of energy(volts) do the electrons use in getting through the wire? |