If the current through a resistor is doubled, what happens to the power dissipated in the resistor?
Correct Answer: Power becomes quadrupled.
- Step 1: Understand the formula for power in a resistor, which is P = I^2 * R.
- Step 2: Identify what happens when the current (I) is doubled. If I is doubled, it becomes 2I.
- Step 3: Substitute 2I into the power formula: P = (2I)^2 * R.
- Step 4: Calculate (2I)^2, which equals 4I^2.
- Step 5: Now, substitute this back into the power formula: P = 4I^2 * R.
- Step 6: Compare the new power (4I^2 * R) to the original power (I^2 * R).
- Step 7: Notice that the new power is 4 times the original power, meaning the power is quadrupled.
- Ohm's Law and Power Dissipation – Understanding the relationship between current, resistance, and power in electrical circuits.
