# Heat Transfer Problem Confused

1. Sep 3, 2009

### aisu1

I'm super confused about this problem. I don't even know where to start. It seems very simple, but I just can't figure it out..

An electrical resistor is connected to a battery. After a brief transient, the resistor assumes a nearly uniform, steady-state temperature of 95 degrees C, while the battery and lead wires remain at the ambient temperature of 25 degrees C. Neglect the electrical resistance of the lead wires.

Consider the resistor as a system about which a control surface is placed and the equation Estored=Ein-Eout+Thermal_Egenerated is applied. Determine the corresponding values of Ein (W), Eout (W), Eg (W), and Est (W).

I have a feeling that alot of these terms cancel out.. but I just don't even know where to start.

2. Sep 3, 2009

### Mapes

Hi aisu1, welcome to PF. Start by reasoning through each term individually. What are your thoughts?

3. Sep 3, 2009

### aisu1

Thanks :)

Well, I think that there's in Ein maybe because it's heat and heat goes from higher to lower temperature. So, Eout is q=q''A.. But I don't know if the heat gets transferred via convection, conduction to the outside air, radiation, or through the wires.. And either way, I feel like I'm not given enough information to figure out the thermal conductivity of the resistor.

I think the thermal energy generated is the power generated by the battery.. But that could be the Ein (if Ein isn't 0).

4. Sep 3, 2009

### Mapes

The resistor is hotter than the surrounding environment. What does that tell you about $E_\mathrm{in}$?

(Personally, I don't like the way the problem is constructed where $E_\mathrm{in}$ and $E_\mathrm{out}$ are separate terms. There should be one term; if it's positive (negative), then energy is entering (leaving).)

The thermal conductivity governs temperature changes within an object. The system boundary encloses the entire resistor, so its thermal conductivity is irrelevant.

Another problem with the wording of this problem is that it seems to be assumed (but not stated) that $E_\mathrm{in}$ and $E_\mathrm{out}$ represent transfers of thermal energy only, not electrical energy. But anyway, I agree that the thermal energy generation term is meant to include the power delivered by the battery.

And what can you say about the stored energy term?

5. Sep 3, 2009

### aisu1

So, Ein would equal 0, because there is no heat transfer to the resistor, just away from it.

I think the stored energy would be 0 also. You only have the generated thermal energy and the energy out terms.

6. Sep 3, 2009

Right on!

7. Sep 3, 2009

### aisu1

Thanks :) I think it makes much more sense now.