Heat Dissipation in Resistors: Does Direction Matter?

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SUMMARY

The heat dissipation in resistors is primarily determined by the square of the current magnitude multiplied by the resistance, making the direction of current irrelevant in standard resistive materials. However, in specific scenarios involving semiconductors or junctions of dissimilar metals, such as the Peltier effect and Thomson effect, the direction of current can influence heat dissipation. These effects are not observed in ordinary resistors, which behave according to Ohm's Law without regard to current direction.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Ohm's Law
  • Familiarity with the Peltier effect
  • Knowledge of the Thomson effect
  • Basic concepts of semiconductor physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the Peltier effect in detail
  • Study the Thomson effect and its applications
  • Explore semiconductor materials and their thermal properties
  • Investigate the behavior of junctions of dissimilar metals
USEFUL FOR

Electrical engineers, physicists, and students studying thermoelectric effects and heat management in electronic components.

sArGe99
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Does the heat dissipated in a resistor necessarily depend on the direction of current through it? As far as I know the heat dissipated equals square of the magnitude of current thru resistor multiplied the resistance of the resistor. But it seems direction matters.
 
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sArGe99 said:
But it seems direction matters.
Why do you think direction matters? Can you give an example?
 
Squaring the current makes the direction irrelevant. Are you imagining a case where it would matter?
 
Peltier effect, Thomson effect. There's both Peltier heating and Peltier cooling depending on the direction of current.
 
You won't find such effects with an ordinary resistor. You need a semiconductor or a junction of dissimilar metals.
 

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