Which type of wire is characterized by high electrical resistance and heats up when current passes through it?

Study for the HSC Physics Exam. Study with multiple choice questions and detailed explanations. Enhance your understanding and get ready for success!

Multiple Choice

Which type of wire is characterized by high electrical resistance and heats up when current passes through it?

Explanation:
The type of wire that is characterized by high electrical resistance and heats up when current passes through it is indeed the filament. Filament wires, often made from materials like tungsten, are designed to have a high resistance. This high resistance causes the wire to convert electrical energy into heat as current flows through it, resulting in increased temperature. This principle is fundamental to the operation of incandescent light bulbs, where the heated filament emits light due to the high temperatures achieved. In contrast, a capacitor is a component that stores electrical energy and does not inherently have high resistance. A resistor, while it does create heat due to resistance, is a general term for a component designed to limit current, but it doesn't specifically refer to wire, which makes it less precise in this context. An inductor stores energy in a magnetic field and does not primarily function based on heating due to resistance. Overall, the focus on high electrical resistance and the resultant heating effect aligns specifically with the characteristics of a filament wire.

The type of wire that is characterized by high electrical resistance and heats up when current passes through it is indeed the filament. Filament wires, often made from materials like tungsten, are designed to have a high resistance. This high resistance causes the wire to convert electrical energy into heat as current flows through it, resulting in increased temperature. This principle is fundamental to the operation of incandescent light bulbs, where the heated filament emits light due to the high temperatures achieved.

In contrast, a capacitor is a component that stores electrical energy and does not inherently have high resistance. A resistor, while it does create heat due to resistance, is a general term for a component designed to limit current, but it doesn't specifically refer to wire, which makes it less precise in this context. An inductor stores energy in a magnetic field and does not primarily function based on heating due to resistance.

Overall, the focus on high electrical resistance and the resultant heating effect aligns specifically with the characteristics of a filament wire.

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