Question

What happens to metal when exposed to an electric current for an extended period of time?

Answer 1

was wondering what happens to the actual metal (copper, aluminum, silver, gold) when electricity is ran through it for a long period of time. Say years like the wire in a house. Does the conductivity of the metal decrease because of the metal being heated for so long? It gets hot in attics during summer so I am sure the wire gets extremely hot added with the wire being in a coating. Or does the metal begin to degrade after years of having a current ran through it and the flow weakens?

Answer 2

Explanation:

1. When an electric current flows through a wire, heat in proportion to double the electric current and double (I2XR) the resistance value of the wire occurs. If an electric current surpassing the allowed current flows continuously, the wire overheats and causes the wire covering to ignit