Heat Dissipation in Resistors: Does Direction Matter?

[sArGe99]

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.

 

[Doc Al]

But it seems direction matters.

Why do you think direction matters? Can you give an example?

 

[lewando]

Squaring the current makes the direction irrelevant. Are you imagining a case where it would matter?

 

[sArGe99]

Peltier effect, Thomson effect. There's both Peltier heating and Peltier cooling depending on the direction of current.

 

[Doc Al]

You won't find such effects with an ordinary resistor. You need a semiconductor or a junction of dissimilar metals.