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Question 69 of 102

Q.Nichrome wire is used as the heating element because it has :

(a) high specific resistance
(b) low specific resistance
(c) high conductivity
(d) low melting point
Puducherry TnboardTamil Nadu HSC (DGE) Board 2018MCQ· 1mImportance★★★★★
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Nichrome is used for heating elements chiefly because it has a high specific resistance (resistivity).

The heat produced in a current-carrying wire is H=I2R tH = I^2 R\,t, and R=ρ l/AR = \rho\,l/A. A material with a high resistivity ρ\rho (specific resistance) develops a large resistance — and hence generates a large amount of heat — even in a compact, short length of wire. Nichrome also has a high melting point and resists oxidation at high temperature, which helps it withstand the heat it generates, but the property that makes it an effective resistive heater (the standard textbook r …

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