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In the following circuit, the heat evolved in the 10 Ω resistor is 10 cal s⁻¹. The heat evolved in the 4 Ω resistor is approximately ______ cal s⁻¹.

Asked in RS Academy GUJCET booklet · Heating and power in resistors

Figure: Heating and power in resistors
Answer: (2) 5

Step-by-step solution

Given: 10 Ω in parallel with 4 Ω and 5 Ω in series; the heat in the 10 Ω resistor is 10 cal s⁻¹.

Idea: the two branches have the same potential difference V across them, so compare the heating rates through H=I²R with I=V/(R_branch).

10 Ω branch: I₁=V/(10), so H₁₀=(V²)/(100)×10=(V²)/(10).

Since H₁₀=10, V² is 100 in these units, and the whole 9 Ω branch gives (V²)/9=(100)/9≈11 cal s⁻¹.

4 Ω+5 Ω branch: I₂=V/9, so H₄=(V²)/(81)×4.

(H₄)/(H₁₀)=(4/81)/(1/10)=(40)/(81)≈0.494.

H₄≈0.494×10=4.94 cal s⁻¹, that is about 5 cal s⁻¹.

Why the other options are wrong

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