Copper wire resistance problem

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving the resistance of a copper wire, which is initially in the form of a cylinder. The wire is stretched, resulting in a reduction of its thickness by half, and participants are tasked with determining the new resistance in terms of the original resistance R.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between resistance, length, and cross-sectional area, questioning how these factors change when the wire is stretched. There are discussions about the implications of reducing the thickness and how it affects resistance.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered equations relating resistance to dimensions of the wire, while others have questioned the assumptions made regarding the relationship between diameter and radius. There is an ongoing exploration of how to maintain volume while changing dimensions, with various interpretations being discussed.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the need to show their work as part of the homework guidelines, and there is an acknowledgment that this problem has appeared in recent board exams, adding a layer of urgency to the discussion.

Krajendren
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A copper wire is in the form of a cylinder and has a resistance R. it is stretched till its thickness reduces by half of its initial size. Find its new resistance in terms of R.
 
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This should probably go into the homework section, and you will need to show your work so far.
 


Krajendren said:
A copper wire is in the form of a cylinder and has a resistance R. it is stretched till its thickness reduces by half of its initial size. Find its new resistance in terms of R.

its resistance will be increased.because R is always inversely proportional to length
 


SAINATHAN said:
its resistance will be increased.because R is always inversely proportional to length

Thanks, could you please mention by how much the resistance will rise ?
 


DaleSpam said:
This should probably go into the homework section, and you will need to show your work so far.

I am really sorry to confuse you but this question appeared for my board exams recently . Could you please help me out . :smile:
 


What equations do you know that relate resistance to length, and amount of substance?
 


Krajendren said:
Thanks, could you please mention by how much the resistance will rise ?

it resistance will be increased by two times.
 
  • #10


Is diameter the only thing changing?
 
  • #11


[tex]R = \rho \frac{h}{A}[/tex]

We must first notice that both area and length change so that the volume remains constant. We assume that the stretching results in a prefect cylinder that we began with. Therefore:
[tex]V = Ah = \pi r^2 h[/tex] and [tex]V[/tex] is a constant.

Thickness refers to the diameter of the cylinder, so to decrease its thickness by half, you must decrease its diameter by half (or its radius by half). So the new area is:
[tex]A' = \pi (\frac{r}{2})^2 = \pi \frac{r}{4}[/tex]

Therefore, to destroy no matter and to keep volume constant, we must multiply [tex]h'[/tex] by a constant to keep [tex]V'[/tex] equal to [tex]V[/tex]:
[tex]V = V' = \pi r^2 h = (\pi \frac{r^2}{4})(Kh)[/tex]
Seen above, K must equal four to cancel out that fractional four, thus bringing both left and right equations equal and thus keeping volume constant.

To sum:
[tex]h' = 4h[/tex]
[tex]A' = \pi \frac{r^2}{4} = (\pi r^2) \frac{1}{4} = \frac{A}{4}[/tex]

We now plug in our new height and our new area into the equation for resistance:
[tex]R' = \rho \frac{4^2h}{A}= 4^2(\rho \frac{h}{A}) = 4^2 R = 16R[/tex]
 
Last edited:
  • #12


xcvxcvvc said:
[tex]R = \rho \frac{h}{A}[/tex]

We must first notice that both area and length change so that the volume remains constant. We assume that the stretching results in a prefect cylinder that we began with. Therefore:
[tex]V = Ah = \pi r^2 h[/tex] and [tex]V[/tex] is a constant.

Thickness refers to the diameter of the cylinder, so to decrease its thickness by half, you must decrease its diameter by half (or its radius by a fourth). So the new area is:
[tex]A' = \pi (\frac{r}{4})^2 = \pi \frac{r}{16}[/tex]

Are you sure? Aren't radius and diameter directly proportional, so that if you decrease the diameter by a half, you also decrease the radius by a half?

xcvxcvvc said:
Therefore, to destroy no matter and to keep volume constant, we must multiply [tex]h'[/tex] by a constant to keep [tex]V'[/tex] equal to [tex]V[/tex]:
[tex]V = V' = \pi r^2 h = (\pi \frac{r^2}{16})(Kh)[/tex]
Seen above, K must equal sixteen to cancel out that fractional sixteen, thus bringing both left and right equations equal and thus keeping volume constant.

To sum:
[tex]h' = 16h[/tex]
[tex]A' = \pi \frac{r^2}{16} = (\pi r^2) \frac{1}{16} = \frac{A}{16}[/tex]

We now plug in our new height and our new area into the equation for resistance:
[tex]R' = \rho \frac{16^2h}{A}= 16^2(\rho \frac{h}{A}) = 16^2 R[/tex]
 
  • #13


sjb-2812 said:
Are you sure? Aren't radius and diameter directly proportional, so that if you decrease the diameter by a half, you also decrease the radius by a half?

you're right
 

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