Quote:
Originally Posted by old_coot88
But only in a hypothetical where the mass is totally insulated against radiative and convective cooling. In the real world, the larger mass, having greater radiative surface and more surface exposed to airflow, will end up running cooler than a smaller mass dissipating the same wattage. Seems like, anyhow.
OOPs. Electronic M already done it.
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Surface area is separate from mass. Just because something is higher in mass, it does not have to have more surface area. If you take a hollow tubular vitreous power resistor and fill it solid, you have greatly increased the mass, greatly decreased the surface area and greatly increased the thermal resistance. The resistor will then run hotter.