If the filament length is doubled, what happens to its resistance, assuming the material and cross-sectional area stay the same?

Study for the UCF PHY2054 General Physics Exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions complete with hints and explanations. Boost your understanding and get exam-ready!

Multiple Choice

If the filament length is doubled, what happens to its resistance, assuming the material and cross-sectional area stay the same?

Explanation:
Resistance in a uniform conductor scales with its length when the material and cross-sectional area don’t change: R = ρL/A. If you double the length while keeping the same material and cross-section, the path the electrons travel doubles, so there are twice as many collisions and twice as much energy dissipated as heat per unit current. That makes the resistance double. So the new resistance is twice the original, not the same, not half, and not four times.

Resistance in a uniform conductor scales with its length when the material and cross-sectional area don’t change: R = ρL/A. If you double the length while keeping the same material and cross-section, the path the electrons travel doubles, so there are twice as many collisions and twice as much energy dissipated as heat per unit current. That makes the resistance double. So the new resistance is twice the original, not the same, not half, and not four times.

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