How to Calculate New Resistance in a Stretched Wire with Uniform Cross Section?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the new resistance of a wire after it has been stretched, specifically focusing on the relationship between length, cross-sectional area, and resistance. The original poster presents a scenario where a wire with uniform cross-section is elongated by 10% and questions how this affects its resistance, while also introducing the concept of conservation of mass.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the equation for resistance and how changes in length affect cross-sectional area. There is a focus on the conservation of volume when the wire is stretched. Some participants express confusion about the relationship between length and radius, while others attempt to apply formulas to different resistance problems involving a carbon film on a rod.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants exploring different interpretations of the problem and questioning the assumptions made about the wire's properties. Some guidance has been provided regarding the equations and concepts involved, but there is no explicit consensus on the correct approach or final answers.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework rules, which may limit the information they can share or the methods they can use. There is also a mention of confusion regarding specific terminology related to the carbon film and its application on the rod.

Steven7
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A wire has uniform cross sectional and resistance R. Then the wire is pulled so that the length increases by 10%. How to find the new resistance? Assumption: The wire thins uniformly.
 
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What equation would you think to apply to figure this?
 
R=rho*l / A
I just don't get the part how the length of the wire affects the cross sectional area/radius.
 
Steven7 said:
R=rho*l / A
I just don't get the part how the length of the wire affects the cross sectional area/radius.

Don't you figure that there is a conservation of mass?

What happens to the volume of wire when you stretch it?

Volume = L * A

if the volume is constant, then if L = 1.1*L then A must equal A/1.1
 
I got it. I thought the increase of L decrease the r to r/1.1.
Can I ask another question about resistance?
A square carbon film of thickness 5x10^-7m, rho 4x10^-5 ohm m is formed on an insulator rod of diameter 3mm.What is the length of the rod so that the carbon film on its curve surface has a resistance of 100 ohm.

I tried:
RA/rho = L
100[3.142*(1.5mm+5x10^-7)^2]/4x10^-7 = L
But the answer is 1.18cm which is different from mine. Where did it gone wrong
 
Last edited:
Steven7 said:
I got it. I thought the increase of L decrease the r to r/1.1.
Can I ask another question about resistance?
A square carbon film of thickness 5x10^-7m, rho 4x10^-5 ohm m is formed on an insulator rod of diameter 3mm.What is the length of the rod so that the carbon film on its curve surface has a resistance of 100 ohm.

I tried:
RA/rho = L
100[3.142*(1.5mm+5x10^-7)^2]/4x10^-7 = L
But the answer is 1.18cm which is different from mine. Where did it gone wrong

Consider that your cross sectional area is the cross section of a thin shelled tube.

A = L * T = π * d * 5*10-7

So:

100Ω = 4*10-5 * L / (3.14*.003*5*10-7)
 
I'm sorry but according to your equation, I don't get the answer which is 1.18cm. By the way, I also don't understand the statement "carbon film on its curve surface" means. Do you mind explaining it?
 
Steven7 said:
I'm sorry but according to your equation, I don't get the answer which is 1.18cm. By the way, I also don't understand the statement "carbon film on its curve surface" means. Do you mind explaining it?

It's an insulating rod, so only the surface foil conducts.
If you unwrap the foil off the rod its cross sectional area is width (π * d) and its thickness is 5*10-7

Area then is W*T = (π * d) *( 5*10-7 ) = 3.14*.0003*5*10-7

Substituting into

R = 100 = p*L/A

yields

100*3.14*.0003*5*10-7 / 4*10-5 = L = 1.1775*10-2m
 
I struggle with A = π r^2 and you cleared those. Thanks a lot.
 

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