A cylindrical tungsten filament 195 cm long with a diameter
A cylindrical tungsten filament 19.5 cm long with a diameter of 1.15 mm is to be used in a machine for which the temperature will range from room temperature (20°C) up to 120°C. It will carry a current of 14.0 A at all temperatures (consult tables [a] and [b] below)
V/m
(b) What will be its resistance with that field?
 ?
 (c) What will be the maximum potential drop over the full length of the filament?
Solution
A cylindrical tungsten filament 19.5 cm long with a diameter of 1.15 mm is to be used in a machine for which the temperature will range from room temperature (20°C) up to 120°C. It will carry a current of 14.0 A at all temperatures (consult tables [a] and [b] below)
resistivity of Tungsten = 5.25e-8 ohm-m
length of the filament l= 19.5cm
dia of the wire = 1.15mm
area of cross section A =(1.15e-3/2)2 = 1.04e-6 sq.m
Resistance of the filament R = l/A = 5.25e-8 *0.195/1.04e-6
= 9.84e-3 ohms at 200C
current = 14.0A
temperature co-efficient = 0.0045/0C
resistivity and resistance increases with temperature, operating temperature is from 20 to 1200C and it will have maximum at 1200C
R(T) = R0[1+(T-T0)]
R(120) = 9.84e-3[1+0.0045(120-20)] = 14.3e-3 ohms
current is constant and the E will be maximum with maximum resistance
at 120C
potential drop across the filament length = IR = 14*14.3e-3 = 0.2 V
maximum E = V/l = 0.2/0.195 = 1.027 V/m
resistance = 14.3e-3 ohms
maximum potential drop across the filament = -0.2V

