- #1
Physics_Kid
- 173
- 11
i need some help understanding this not-so-simple heatsink model.
lets say i have a length of copper wire, say 8ft long, and i put tubular insulation around the wire for just a section of it, say a 4ft length and it is co-centered on the wire (2ft on each side is in ambient air), for giggles the insulation R value is 100.
now, i pass amps through the wire, from the wire properties i can calculate the heat being generated by the wire, hence the exothermic density (flux) is the same everywhere. as example, i know its watts/mm^2.
i know copper has low R value, yet i also know that the wire is exothermic everywhere, so help me understand the answer to my Q.
my question is, does the exposed copper outside of the insulation have significant impact of the temp of center of wire?
lets say i have a length of copper wire, say 8ft long, and i put tubular insulation around the wire for just a section of it, say a 4ft length and it is co-centered on the wire (2ft on each side is in ambient air), for giggles the insulation R value is 100.
now, i pass amps through the wire, from the wire properties i can calculate the heat being generated by the wire, hence the exothermic density (flux) is the same everywhere. as example, i know its watts/mm^2.
i know copper has low R value, yet i also know that the wire is exothermic everywhere, so help me understand the answer to my Q.
my question is, does the exposed copper outside of the insulation have significant impact of the temp of center of wire?