Which of the following applications utilizes the heating effect of current?

• A. Alternator
• B. Solar cell
• C. Filament lamp
• D. Wind turbine

Answer: (C)

The filament lamp is an excellent example of an application that utilizes the heating effect of current. When electric current flows through the filament, it encounters resistance. This resistance generates heat as a byproduct of the electrical energy being converted into thermal energy.

As the temperature of the filament increases, it reaches a point where it begins to emit visible light, a process known as incandescence. This principle of converting electrical energy into light energy through the heating effect is fundamental to how traditional incandescent light bulbs operate.

In contrast, the other options—such as the alternator, solar cell, and wind turbine—do not primarily rely on the heating effect of current to perform their functions. The alternator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy, the solar cell converts light energy into electrical energy through the photovoltaic effect, and the wind turbine converts kinetic energy from wind into mechanical energy. Thus, they do not utilize the heating effect of current in the same manner as a filament lamp does.