Factors affecting Resistance of a

Conductor
Prepared by:
Engr. Tomashita P. Arenas
 Length
Factors
of wire
affecting
resistance.

Factors Cross
Temperature affecting sectional
resistance area

Material
 Length
of wire

Factors Factors Cross

affecting sectional
affecting
Temperature
area
resistance
resistance.

Material

For metal conductors, resistance

increases with temperature. For
semi-conductors, it decreases
with temperature.
 Length
of wire

Factors Factors Cross

affecting sectional
affecting
Temperature
area
resistance
resistance.

Material

For metal conductors, resistance

increases with temperature. For
semi-conductors, it decreases
with temperature.

When a current flows through a wire,

resistance causes a heating effect.
This principle is used in heating
elements and in filament light bulbs.
 Length
of wire

Factors Factors Cross

affecting sectional
affecting
Temperature
area
resistance
resistance.

Material

Electrons collide with

atoms as they pass
through conductors,
losing energy. The atoms
For metal conductors, resistance vibrate more, causing a
increases with temperature. For heating effect

semi-conductors, it decreases
with temperature.

When a current flows through a wire,

resistance causes a heating effect.
This principle is used in heating
elements and in filament light bulbs.
 Temperature

Factors Length Factors

affecting
Cross
sectional
affecting
of wire area
resistance
resistance.

Material

Wires A and B have the same cross-

A sectional area and are at the same
temperature. Wire B is twice as
B long as wire A, and has twice the
resistance.
 Temperature

Factors Length Factors

affecting
Cross
sectional
affecting
of wire area
resistance
resistance.

Material

Wires A and B have the same cross-

A sectional area and are at the same
temperature. Wire B is twice as
B long as wire A, and has twice the
resistance.

Resistance length
Resistance is directly proportional to length
 Temperature

Factors Cross
sectional
Factors
affecting Length
affecting area
resistance of wire

resistance.

Material

Wires A and B have the same length

A and are at the same temperature.
Wire B is twice the cross-sectional
area of A, and has half the
B resistance.
 Temperature

Factors Cross
sectional
Factors
affecting Length
affecting area
resistance of wire

resistance.

Material

Wires A and B have the same length

A and are at the same temperature.
Wire B is twice the cross-sectional
area of A, and has half the
B resistance.

Resistance 1 (area = cross-sectional area)

area
 Temperature

Factors Material
Factors
affecting Length
affecting resistance of wire

resistance.
Cross
sectional
area

Some wires have much more

resistance for a given length. For
example a 10cm length of nichrome
has a much higher resistance than
copper of the same length and
cross-sectional area. Nichrome is
said to have a higher resistivity.
 Temperature

Factors Material
Factors
affecting Length
affecting resistance of wire

resistance.
Cross
sectional
area

Some wires have much more Typical resistivity (Ω/m)

resistance for a given length. For Constantan 49 x 10-8
example a 10cm length of nichrome
has a much higher resistance than Manganin 44 x 10-8
copper of the same length and Nichrome 100 x 10-8
cross-sectional area. Nichrome is Tungsten 55 x 10-8
said to have a higher resistivity.
The Greek letter rho (ρ) is the
resistivity constant for any given
material)
 Length
of wire

Factors Factors Cross

affecting sectional
affecting
Temperature
area
resistance
resistance.

Material

Combining the resistance equations

 Length
of wire

Factors Factors Cross

affecting sectional
affecting
Temperature
area
resistance
resistance.

Material

Combining the resistance equations

Resistance length
area
 Length
of wire

Factors Factors Cross

affecting sectional
affecting
Temperature
area
resistance
resistance.

Material

Combining the resistance equations

R = ρ x l
A

Resistance length
area
 Length
of wire

Factors Factors Cross

affecting sectional
affecting
Temperature
area
resistance
resistance.

Material

Combining the resistance equations

R = ρ x l
A

Resistance length ρ = R x A
area l
 Length
of wire

Factors Factors Cross

affecting sectional
affecting
Temperature
area
resistance
resistance.

Material

Combining the resistance equations

R = ρ x l
Comparing different wires, A and B, made from the
A
same material (so ρ is the same for each wire)
at the same temperature.

ρ = R x A
l
 Length
of wire

Factors Factors Cross

affecting sectional
affecting
Temperature
area
resistance
resistance.

Material

Combining the resistance equations

R = ρ x l
Comparing different wires, A and B, made from the
A
same material (so ρ is the same for each wire)
at the same temperature.

ρ = R x A
ResistanceA x AreaA = ResistanceB x AreaB
LengthA LengthB
l
Example
1. A copper wire has a length of 4.00 m and a diameter of 2x10-3 m. Assume a temperature of 20C.
a. What is the wire’s area?
(Ω.m)
b. What is the resistivity?

c. What is the resistance

of the wire?

d. Why specify 20C?

Example
2. Find the resistance of a piece of copper with a diameter of 1 mm and a length of 1 cm.
Example
3. A wire of resistance R is stretched uniformly (keeping its volume constant) until it is twice
its original length. What happens to the resistance?
a. it increases by a factor 4
b. it increases by a factor 2
c. it stays the same
d. it decreases by a factor 2
e. it decreases by a factor 4
Example
4. Two wires, A and B, are made of the same metal and have equal length, but the resistance of
wire A is four times the resistance of wire B. How do their diameters compare?

a. dA = 4 dB
b. dA = 2 dB
c. dA = dB
d. dA = ½ dB
e. dA = ¼ dB
SUMMARY
• Which factors affect resistance?
• How does each factor affect resistance?
• How can you calculate resistance?
• What are the units for resistance?
• Describe an ideal wire with the LEAST amount of
resistance