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  • Subject: Engineering question regarding circuits
Subject: Engineering question regarding circuits

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The exact question is:

"Explain why a situation where the electrical current is too high is a problem. (Hint: You may want to mention an equation)"

This is in regards to applications, not theory. So I'm looking for an application where a high current could be dangerous or problematic.


If you don't know anything about this, feel free to discuss how stupid flamingos are.

  • 12.14.2012 11:08 AM PDT

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uuuum, batteries!? Too much power can make it go POP!

And Flamingoes are PIMP!!!

  • 12.14.2012 11:10 AM PDT

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself."
-Nietzsche

High current will release a lot of heat. This can melt your circuit and potentially start a fire.

  • 12.14.2012 11:11 AM PDT
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High electric current would be bad in a circuit with a low amp fuse?

/rudimentary basic electrical understanding


  • 12.14.2012 11:11 AM PDT

http://i.imgur.com/fsISj.png

Could you argue that the phrase "too high" implicitly states that the current is problematic, thus for any situation in which the electrical current is "too high", it is implicit in the definition of the situation that the current poses a problem, therefore no specific example is needed?

  • 12.14.2012 11:12 AM PDT

**Devil's advocate of the Flood. My posts may or may not represent my personal opinion, I just enjoy disagreeing with people. None of my posts are representative of the official view of the Navy or any government agency.

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Posted by: Disambiguation
High current will release a lot of heat. This can melt your circuit and potentially start a fire.


Does resistance affect the amount of heat put out?

What is the name of the formula, if there is one, that relates current to heat output?

[Edited on 12.14.2012 11:16 AM PST]

  • 12.14.2012 11:16 AM PDT

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself."
-Nietzsche

Posted by: theHurtfulTurkey
Posted by: Disambiguation
High current will release a lot of heat. This can melt your circuit and potentially start a fire.


Does resistance affect the amount of heat put out?
Indeed it does. The heat dissipated by a resistor over time is equal to the voltage times the current; or P = IV (yes, it's the DC power equation).

  • 12.14.2012 11:18 AM PDT

**Devil's advocate of the Flood. My posts may or may not represent my personal opinion, I just enjoy disagreeing with people. None of my posts are representative of the official view of the Navy or any government agency.

Non Sibi Sed Patriae
Homework questions? Forget the Flood, join The Academy.
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Posted by: Disambiguation
Posted by: theHurtfulTurkey
Posted by: Disambiguation
High current will release a lot of heat. This can melt your circuit and potentially start a fire.


Does resistance affect the amount of heat put out?
Indeed it does. The heat dissipated by a resistor over time is equal to the voltage times the current; or P = IV (yes, it's the DC power equation).


Oh my God I'm a dumbass. Thanks Dis.

  • 12.14.2012 11:19 AM PDT

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself."
-Nietzsche

You should probably cite the power equation as P = R*I^2 (Ohm's law) to give a more direct relationship between resistance and current; noting that the heat dissipated increases with the square of the current.

And yea, I've seen melted components. It's not pretty, and it smells bad.

[Edited on 12.14.2012 11:23 AM PST]

  • 12.14.2012 11:21 AM PDT