What is Joule's law?

Joule s law states that the heat generated by an electric current passing through a conductor is proportional to the product of the resistance of the conductor ...

Oct 20,2023 | Hebe

Joule's law states that the heat generated by an electric current passing through a conductor is proportional to the product of the resistance of the conductor and the square of the current. It is named after James Prescott Joule.

Mathematically, it can be expressed as:

H = I^2 * R * t

Where:

H = Heat generated (Joules)

I = Electric current (Amperes)

R = Electrical resistance of conductor (Ohms)

t = Time (seconds)

In other words, the amount of heat (H) generated is equal to the current (I) squared, multiplied by the resistance (R), multiplied by the time (t) the current flows through the conductor. This relates the electrical power input to a conductor to the thermal power released as heat.

So in summary, the greater the current, the greater the heat generated. And higher resistance in a conductor also results in more heat generated for the same current. Joule's law shows the direct relationship between electricity and heat.