A standard problem in introductory physics books is to use the temperature coefficient of resistivity to calculate the operating temperature of an incandescent lightbulb filament or heating wire. This assumes a linear variation of resistivity with temperature, which is shown to be significantly incorrect for a 120-V 60-W lightbulb. A discussion of this error can be included with a lecture calculation of the temperature.
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© 2002 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2002
American Association of Physics Teachers
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