What is the total heat dissipated…

Physics Questions

What is the total heat dissipated in the horizontal resistors when a capacitor with an initial charge Q0 is discharged through an infinite ladder of resistors? A. 4 C Q0² B. 6 C Q0² C. 3 C Q0² D. 5 C Q0²

Short Answer

The total heat dissipated in resistors due to the discharge of a capacitor is calculated by deriving individual heat values from each resistor using an infinite geometric series. This results in the formula H = Q₀²/6C, confirming the outcome corresponds to option (b).

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Understanding Heat Dissipation in Resistors

The total energy dissipated as heat in a single resistor is formulated as Q¬≤/2C, where Q represents the charge stored in the capacitor and C is the capacitance. In this scenario, as the capacitor discharges through an infinite configuration of resistors, the initial charge Q‚ÇÄ becomes distributed among the resistors in a geometric progression. Each resistor’s heat dissipation will contribute to the overall heat loss in the system.

Step 2: Deriving Charge and Heat for Each Resistor

The charge carried by the nth resistor (Qₙ) is calculated using the formula: Q₀ * (1/2)^(n-1). Consequently, the heat dissipated in the nth resistor (Hₙ) is assessed with the equation: Qₙ²/2C. By substituting the value of Qₙ in this formula, we can express Hₙ as: (Q₀²/2C) * (1/4)^(n-1). This shows how the heat reduces with each subsequent resistor in the ladder.

Step 3: Calculating Total Heat Dissipation

To find the total heat dissipated through all horizontal resistors, we sum the heat from each resistor from n=1 to infinity. Utilizing the sum of an infinite geometric series, we derive the total heat as: H = (Q₀²/2C) * (4/3). After simplification, this results in the final expression: H = Q₀²/6C, which confirms that the result corresponds to option (b) of the problem.

Related Concepts

Heat dissipation

The process by which a resistor converts electrical energy into thermal energy, affecting its temperature and influencing system performance.

Charge

The physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field, often represented by the symbol q.

Capacitance

The ability of a system to store an electric charge, defined as the ratio of the electric charge q stored on each conductor to the voltage v across the conductors, typically measured in farads (f).

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