Dividing Resistance Wire: How Many Parts?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a 100Ω resistance wire that is cut into equal parts and then combined in parallel, resulting in a total resistance of 1Ω. The objective is to determine how many parts the wire is cut into.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster expresses uncertainty about how to approach the problem. One participant suggests modeling the resistance wire as multiple resistors in series and parallel, providing equations related to total resistance. Another participant corrects an equation regarding the total resistance in parallel.

Discussion Status

The discussion includes attempts to derive the number of parts based on resistance equations. While one participant provides a solution, there is a correction made to the equations presented, indicating an ongoing exploration of the problem without a definitive consensus.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of the problem statement and are discussing the implications of cutting the wire into equal parts and combining them in parallel.

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Homework Statement



100[tex]\Omega[/tex] resistance wire is cut in equal parts, which are combined in parallel. They're total resistance is 1[tex]\Omega[/tex]. In how many parts the wire is cut?

Homework Equations



I guess it's something like [tex]R[/tex]=[tex]\frac{R_{1}}{N}[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution


I don't have an idea how to solve it :frown: I would be very grateful if someone could help me solve this problem.
 
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Think of the resistance wire as many small resistors connected together. Because the resistors are connected together in a series, the total resistanse in the "first" situation will be

nR=100 (1)

Here "n" is the number of resistors (number of resistanse wire parts) and R is the resistanse of a part of resistanse wire. Since the pieces are cut in identical pieces they will also have the same "independent" resistanse.

Further we know that if we combine the parts in parallel we get the resistanse as

1/(R.tot)=1/(R.1)+1/(R.2)+1/(R.3)...

Because R.1=R.2=R.3... (and so forth) we get

1/(R.tot)=n/(R.1)

Or

R.tot=R=n (2)

Again, R.1=R.2=R.3 because the pieces are identical

Solving for (1) and (2) gives that we have 10 pieces.
 
Sorry for my hasty reply, the second equation should be

R.tot=R/n

otherwise it's fine
 
Thank you very much, Ofey!
 

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