High School Physics : Resistors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Physics

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Example Questions

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Example Question #72 : Electric Circuits

Two aluminum wires have the same resistance.  If one has twice the length of the other, what is the ratio of the diameter of the longer wire to the diameter of the shorter wire?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Let’s start with the resistivity equation

The area of a wire is the area of a circle.  So let’s substitute that into our equation

This can be simplified to 

Since we know that both resistors have the same resistivity and the same resistance, we can set these equations equal to each other.

Many things fallout which leaves us with

We know that the second wire is twice the length as the first

So we can substitute this into our equation

The length of the wire drops out of the equation

Now we can solve for the diameter of the longer wire.

Take the square root of both sides

Therefore the ratio of the long to the short wire is

  Or

 

Example Question #73 : Electric Circuits

What is the diameter of a  length of tungsten wire whose resistance is  ohms?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We will use the resistivity equation to solve for this.  We know

Length = 

Resistance = 

 

ρ of Tungsten = 

 

The equation for resistivity is

We can rearrange this equation to solve for 

In this case the area of the wire is the area of a circle which is equal to 

We can rearrange this to get the radius by itself

 

To find the diameter we need to multiply this value by 2.

 

 

 

 

 

Example Question #101 : Electricity And Magnetism

The resistivity of most common metals __________________ . 

Possible Answers:

increases as the temperature increases

varies randomly as the temperature increases

decreases as the temperature increases

remains constant over wide temperature ranges

Correct answer:

increases as the temperature increases

Explanation:

At higher temperature, the atoms are moving more rapidly and are arranged in a less orderly way.  Therefore it is expected that these fast moving atoms are more likely to interfere with the flow of electrons.  If there is more interference in the flow of electrons, then there is a higher resistivity.

 

Example Question #75 : Electric Circuits

Screen shot 2020 08 24 at 8.50.00 am

Which Resistors are connected in parallel?

Possible Answers:

 and 

 and 

None of the answer choices are correct

 and 

All answer choices are correct

Correct answer:

 and 

Explanation:

Resistors are in parallel when the electric current passes through two or more branches or connected parts at the same time before it combines again. After the current leaves the battery it travels to . Then the current splits and travels between the other two resistors before the current coming back together and connecting back to the battery.

Example Question #102 : Electricity And Magnetism

How does adding resistors in parallel affect the overall current of the circuit?

Possible Answers:

The current stays the same

The current decreases

The current increases

Correct answer:

The current increases

Explanation:

Adding resistors in parallel decrease the overall equivalent resistance as they are added using the equation

Since the overall equivalent resistance is decreased, if the voltage is constant the overall current would increase.

Therefore 

This shows the inverse relationship between the two values.

Example Question #77 : Electric Circuits

Screen shot 2020 08 24 at 8.54.25 am

Which resistor has the greatest current going through it?

Assume all the resistors are equal.

Possible Answers:

 and 

 and 

Correct answer:

Explanation:

As we examine the circuit we first come across the first two resistors. These resistors are in parallel. In parallel circuits, the current splits to go down each branch. In this case, the resistors are of equal value meaning that the current is split evenly between the two.

We then come across another parallel branch with two resistors on one side and a single resistor on the other side. The two resistors in series add up to create more resistance on the top branch. The single resistor on its own has less resistance.

Since current always chooses the path of least resistance, more current will flow through the single resistor, than through the branch with two resistors in series.

Therefore,  would have the greatest resistance flowing through it.

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