A battery is connected first across the series combination and then across the parallel combination, of three resistances R, 2R and 3R. In which of the three resistances will power dissipated be maximum in the two cases ? Justify your answer.
Whenever an electric current is passed through a conductor, it becomes hot after some time. The phenomenon of the production of heat in a resistor by the flow of an electric current through it is called heating effect of current or Joule heating. Thus, the electrical energy supplied by the source of emf is converted into heat. In purely resistive circuit the energy expended by the source entirely appears as heat. But if the circuit has an active element like a motor, then a part of the energy supplied by the source goes to do useful work and the rest appears as heat. Joule's law of heating form the basis of various electrical appliances such as electric bulb, electric furnace, electric press etc.
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