Current through resistor, with heat. What happens to the current?

AI Thread Summary
When a current of 1 A flows through a resistor, the resistor heats up, which can affect the current depending on the resistor's material properties. As the temperature of a wire-based resistor increases, its resistance typically increases, leading to a decrease in current if the voltage remains constant. However, for an ideal resistor that does not change its resistance with temperature, the current would remain constant despite the heating. The key takeaway is that the current's behavior is contingent on whether the resistor's resistance changes with temperature. Understanding the relationship between temperature, resistance, and current is crucial in electrical circuits.
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Homework Statement



Suppose a current of 1 A is flowing through a resistor. If this makes the resistor heat up, will the current through the resistor increase, decrease, or remain constant? Assume the voltage applied to the resistor is constant.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



Please help me with this, I'm not sure, but I believe the current will decrease slightly because of the heat dissipated?
 
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rcmango said:

Homework Statement



Suppose a current of 1 A is flowing through a resistor. If this makes the resistor heat up, will the current through the resistor increase, decrease, or remain constant? Assume the voltage applied to the resistor is constant.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



Please help me with this, I'm not sure, but I believe the current will decrease slightly because of the heat dissipated?

The resistance of many electrical components changes with temperature. Certainly the resistance of a wire increases when it gets hotter, so if the resistor is actually made up of a length of wire you can expect that change in resistance - with an effect on the current I am sure you can predict.
 
Okay, so as the wire heats up the resistance of the wire increases, this causes the current to decrease. Is that correct?
 
rcmango said:
Okay, so as the wire heats up the resistance of the wire increases, this causes the current to decrease. Is that correct?

That sounds good.

EDIT: provided the resistor is made using wire.
 
Last edited:
The current decrease is NOT because of the heat dissipated. For an ideal resistor that does not change resistance even if it heats up, the current doesn't change.
 

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