Assertion (A): The temperature of a metal wire rises when an electric current is passed through it. Reason (R): Collision of metal atoms with each other releases heat energy.

1. Assertion (A) states that the temperature of a metal wire rises when an electric current is passed through it. This is true and is known as Joule heating or resistive heating. 2. Reason (R) states that Collision of metal atoms with each other releases heat energy. This explanation is incorrect. The heat is generated due to the collisions of the moving electrons (constituting the current) with the relatively fixed ions (atoms that have lost electrons) in the metal lattice structure. These collisions impede the flow of electrons (resistance) and transfer kinetic energy from the electrons to the lattice, causing vibrations which manifest as heat. It's not primarily collisions between metal atoms themselves. 3. Since Assertion (A) is true and Reason (R) is false, option (C) is the correct answer.