If the cross-sectional area doubles, keeping length and material constant, the resistance will

Study for the Praxis Physics Exam with interactive questions and detailed explanations to enhance your understanding of physics concepts. Prepare for your exam efficiently!

Multiple Choice

If the cross-sectional area doubles, keeping length and material constant, the resistance will

Explanation:
Resistance depends on how easily charges can flow through a material. For a uniform conductor, R equals resistivity times length over cross-sectional area: R = ρL/A. If length and material stay the same, changing the area only changes the denominator. Doubling the cross-sectional area doubles the available pathways for electrons, so the resistance halves. In other words, the new resistance is half the original value. If the area didn’t change, the resistance would stay the same; if the area were reduced, the resistance would increase.

Resistance depends on how easily charges can flow through a material. For a uniform conductor, R equals resistivity times length over cross-sectional area: R = ρL/A. If length and material stay the same, changing the area only changes the denominator. Doubling the cross-sectional area doubles the available pathways for electrons, so the resistance halves. In other words, the new resistance is half the original value. If the area didn’t change, the resistance would stay the same; if the area were reduced, the resistance would increase.

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