A resistor held in running water carries electric current. Treat the resistor as the system (a) Does heat flow into the resistor? (b) Is there a flow of heat into the water? (c) Is any work done? (d) Assuming the state of resistance to remain unchanged, apply the first law of thermodynamics to this process.
Solution
(a) Heat is generated into the resistor due to the passage of electric current. In the usual notation, heat generated = I2Rt.
(b) Yes. Water receives heat from the resistor.
(c) l2Rt = MCΔT + PΔV
(Q) (Δ U) (W)
Here, I = current through the resistor, R = resistance of the resistor, t = time for which the current is passed through the resistor, M = mass of the water, S = specific heat of water, T = rise in the temperature of water, P = pressure against which the work is done by the water, Δ U = increase in the volume of the water.
