Electronics · DC circuits / Principles and inquiry
Power, Joule heating and fuses experiment guide
Vary current and heating time to compare heating and the conditions that blow a fuse.
How does it work?
P = I²R; after the fuse opens, current and additional heating are zero.
Key relationship
P = I²R · Q = Pt · T = 20 + Q/Cth
Try this investigation
- Vary current and heating time to compare heating and the conditions that blow a fuse.
- Run and record each of the three baseline presets.
- Compare the changed variable and its result with the baseline records.
Interpreting your results
Under the same conditions, what is the total heat at 10 s if the fuse blows after 0.5 s?
1.8 J
Assumptions and limitations
The 0.5 s fuse delay is an educational approximation. Cooling, temperature-dependent resistance and fire are not simulated. Experiment on screen; do not reproduce this with real power supplies, outlets or high voltage.