This report describes an experimental and theoretical study of the energy balance in the early stages of the explosion of metal wires by high currents. As the metal is heated it may pass through several crystalline states and will eventually melt and vaporize. The primary interest of this paper is in the phenomena up to and including the melting process. Among the phenomena studied are the magnetic pressure, the inertial pressure, the transient skin effect heat conduction to the ends of the wire, and, in the case of nickel wire, the energy required to reach the Curie point. A detailed study of possible experimental errors and limits of uncertainty is also reported.
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