Width of wire

[scotty0409]

What is the effect of increasing the width of a wire on it's resistance, and why?

Thanks
Neil

 

[cristo]

What do you think? Do you know the structure of a metal/solid?

 

[scotty0409]

Does it decrease because there are more electrons to move freely?

 

[ranger]

Does it decrease because there are more electrons to move freely?

You pretty much got it. Just think of a pipe where you can vary the diameter to affect the water flow.

 

[scotty0409]

ok thanks for the help

 

[berkeman]

So now that you've figured it out with help from ranger, here is the general equation that you should memorize (yes, there are a handful of equations that you should memorize):

$$R = \frac{\rho L}{A}$$

So an increase in the "width" of a conductor increases the area of the conductor, which does what?

 

[scotty0409]

So now that you've figured it out with help from ranger, here is the general equation that you should memorize (yes, there are a handful of equations that you should memorize):

$$R = \frac{\rho L}{A}$$

So an increase in the "width" of a conductor increases the area of the conductor, which does what?

Sorry, but what does pL represent?

 

[ranger]

p = static resistivity of material and L = length of specimen.