vt.physics on Instagram: "Why Do Wires Get Hot When You Use Them? Joule heating, also called ohmic or resistive heating, is the process by which an electric current passing through a conductor produces heat as the moving electrons collide with atoms in the material. This effect is put to good use in everyday appliances such as electric kettles, heaters, and incandescent light bulbs, where the heat is the desired outcome. However, it can also be wasteful, as in power lines and electrical circuits