Factors affecting Resistance of

a Conductor
Prepared by:
Engr. Tomashita P. Arenas
 Lengt
h of
Factors wire
affecting
resistance.

Factors
affecting Cross
Temperatur
e sectiona
resistanc l area
e

Materia
l
 Lengt
h of
wire

Factors
Factors affecting Cross
sectional
affecting
Temperature
resistanc area
e
resistance.

Materia
l

For metal conductors, resistance

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

Factors
Factors affecting Cross
sectional
affecting
Temperature
resistanc area
e
resistance.

Materia
l

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.
 Lengt
h of
wire

Factors
Factors affecting Cross
sectional
affecting
Temperature
resistanc area
e
resistance.

Materia
l

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
Factors Lengt
h of affecting Cross
sectional
affecting wire resistanc
e
area

resistance.

Materia
l

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
Factors Lengt
h of affecting Cross
sectional
affecting wire resistanc
e
area

resistance.

Materia
l

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
Factors Cross
sectional affecting Lengt
h of
affecting area resistanc
e
wire
resistance.

Materia
l

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
Factors Cross
sectional affecting Lengt
h of
affecting area resistanc
e
wire
resistance.

Materia
l

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
Factors Materia affecting Lengt
h of
affecting
l resistanc
wire
e
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
Factors Materia affecting Lengt
h of
affecting
l resistanc
wire
e
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
Manganin 44 x 10-8
has a much higher resistance than
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)
 Lengt
h of
wire

Factors
Factors affecting Cross
sectional
affecting
Temperature
resistanc area
e
resistance.

Materia
l

Combining the resistance equations

 Lengt
h of
wire

Factors
Factors affecting Cross
sectional
affecting
Temperature
resistanc area
e
resistance.

Materia
l

Combining the resistance equations

Resistance length
area
 Lengt
h of
wire

Factors
Factors affecting Cross
sectional
affecting
Temperature
resistanc area
e
resistance.

Materia
l

Combining the resistance equations

R = ρ x l
A

Resistance length
area
 Lengt
h of
wire

Factors
Factors affecting Cross
sectional
affecting
Temperature
resistanc area
e
resistance.

Materia
l

Combining the resistance equations

R = ρ x l
A

Resistance length ρ = R x A
area l
 Lengt
h of
wire

Factors
Factors affecting Cross
sectional
affecting
Temperature
resistanc area
e
resistance.

Materia
l

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
 Lengt
h of
wire

Factors
Factors affecting Cross
sectional
affecting
Temperature
resistanc area
e
resistance.

Materia
l

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
l
LengthA LengthB
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?
b. What is the resistivity? (Ω.m)
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