Does Wire Length Affect Resistance?

AI Thread Summary
Doubling the length of a wire can lead to confusion regarding volume and resistance. If the wire is stretched, its volume remains constant as it becomes thinner, assuming density stays the same. However, if two lengths of wire are joined together, the resistance would indeed double. The original question lacked clarity, leading to misinterpretation of the concept. Clear definitions are essential for accurate discussions on wire length and resistance.
terryds
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Do not accept any sentence you read on the Net.

That first post you refer to assumes that the volume of the wire is kept constant. So you stretch out a piece of wire and see how its resistance changes.
 
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Volume of wire is the area of the cross section of the wire times its length - excluding any wire that has varying thickness, for now. Volume remains the same if the wire is somehow going to get "thinner" when it's being stretched.
 
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well if we assume that the density of the wire doesn't change then volume= mass/density... as mass of the wire is constant the volume has to be constant
 
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The op at that link wasn't clear what he meant by the length of wire being doubled so the person that answered assumed he meant stretched. In which case the volume would be constant.

I believe the op actually meant doubled as in two lengths joined together. In which case the resistance would double.
 
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CWatters said:
The op at that link wasn't clear what he meant by the length of wire being doubled so the person that answered assumed he meant stretched. In which case the volume would be constant.

I believe the op actually meant doubled as in two lengths joined together. In which case the resistance would double.

totally agree with that summary ... unclear question leading to a incorrect answer
 
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