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Electrical resistance is the property of a material to resist the flow of the electric current through it. When electric current flows through a conductor, some amount of it is obstructed from flowing. This obstruction to flow of current is measured as electrical resistance. It is denoted by ‘R’. Electrical resistance is a major concept covered in the chapter Current Electricity.
The formula for calculating electrical resistance of a conductor is;
V = IR
Where, V = Potential difference
I = Current
R = Resistance
The electrical resistance of a conductor depends on the following factors:
- The area of cross-section of the conductor
- Length of the conductor
- Temperature of the conductor
- Material of the conductor
Electrical resistance is directly proportional to the length of the conductor and inversely proportional to the area of its cross-section. This relation can be expressed as;
R = ρ(L/A)
where, is the resistivity of the material
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| Chapter Related Articles | ||
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| Current Electricity Important Questions | Current Electricity NCERT Solutions | Current Electricity MCQs |
MCQs on Electrical Resistance
Ques 1. A potentiometer wire 10 m long has a resistance of 40Ω . It is connected in series with a resistance box and a 2 V storage cell. If the potential gradient along the wire is 0.1 mV/cm, the resistance in the box is:
- 760Ω
- 260Ω
- 1060Ω
- 960Ω
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Ans. (a). 760Ω
Explanation: Potential gradient = 0.1 mV/cm
ΔV/1 = (0.1 x 10-3) / (1 x 10-2)
ΔV = 1 x 0.01 = 0.1
0.1 / (2 - 0.1) = 40/R
R = 760Ω
Ques 2. A wire of resistance 20Ω is bent in the form of a square. The resistance between the ends of diagonal is:
- 10Ω
- 20Ω
- 5Ω
- 15Ω
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Ans. (c). 5Ω
Explanation: The wire is bent in the form of a square. In a square, all the sides are equal, therefore, resistance will be same for each side i.e. 5Ω.
When a diagonal is created, the two faces on each side of the diagonal will have two sides and the resistance will be 10.
R = 20Ω
R/4 = 5Ω
R1 = 10Ω and R2 = 10Ω
So, resistance between the ends of the diagonal is,
RD = (10 x 10) / (2 x 10) = 5Ω
Ques 3. The equivalent conductance of two wires of resistance 10 and 5 joined together in parallel is:
- 50/15 mho
- 0.3 mho
- 2/3 mho
- 35/50 mho
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Ans. (b). 0.3 mho
Explanation: Effective resistance in parallel combination is given by,
1/R = 1/5 + 1/10
1/R = 3/10
So, conductance = 3/10 = 0.3 mho
Ques 4. What length of copper wire of resistivity 1.7 x 10-8 Ωm and radius 1 mm is required so that its resistance is 1Ω?
- 184.7 m
- 200 m
- 190.5 m
- 150 m
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Ans. (a). 184.7 m
Explanation: We know, R = ρL/A …….(i)
R = 1Ω
Area of cross-section, A = πr2 = 3.14 x 0.0012 = 3.14 x 10-6
Resistivity = 1.7 x 10-8 m
Putting these values in eq (i),
1 = (1.7 x 10-8 L) / (3.14 x 10-6)
L = (1 x 3.14 x 10-6) / (1.7 x 10-8)
L = 3.14 x 10-6 / 1.7 x 10-8
L = 1.847 x 102 m
Ques 5. A copper wire has diameter 0.5 mm and resistivity of 1.6 x 10-8 Ωm. What will be the length of this wire to make its resistance 10Ω?
- 110 m
- 122.6 m
- 100 m
- 150 m
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Ans. (b). 122.6 m
Explanation: d = 0.5 mm = 0.5 x 10-3 m
R = d/2 = (0.5 x 10-3) / 2
R = 0.25 x 10-3 m
A = πr2 = 3.14 x (0.25 x 10-3)2
ρ= 1.6 x 10-8 Ωm
R = 10Ω
We know, R = ρL/A
I = RA/ρ
I = 10 x 3.14 x (0.25)2 x 10-6 / 1.6 x 10-8
I = 1.226 x 102
I = 122.6 m
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Ques 6. An aluminium ( α = 4 x 10-3 K-1) resistance R1 and a carbon ( α = 0.5 x 10-3 K-1) resistance R2 are connected in series to have a resultant resistance of 36 Ω at all temperatures. The values of R1 and R2 respectively are:
- 32Ω and 4Ω
- 16Ω and 20Ω
- 4Ω and 32Ω
- 20Ω and 16Ω
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Ans. (c). 4Ω and 32Ω
Explanation: Here, R1 + R2 = 36 …..(i)
R1’ = R1 [1 + α1ΔT]
R2’ = R2 [1 + α2ΔT]
R1’ + R2’ is independent of T
R1α1 + R2α2 = 0
Also, R1/R2 = α2/α1
R1/R2 = 0.5 x 10-3 / 4 x 10-3
R1/R2 = ⅛
R2 = 8R1
Put this value in eq (i),
R1 + 8R1 = 36
9R1 = 36
R1 = 4Ω
And R2 = 32Ω
Ques 7. If the temperature is increased, what will be the effect on the resistance of a conductor?
- Decreases
- Increases
- Does not change
- May increase or decrease depending on other factors
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Ans. (b). Increases
Explanation: Since, Resistance is directly proportional to temperature, hence when temperature is increased resistance will also increase.
Ques 8. On a bulb it is written 220 V and 60 W. The resistance of the bulb and the value of the current flowing through it is:
- 500Ω and 2 A
- 200Ω and 4 A
- 806.67Ω and 0.27 A
- 100Ω and 1 A
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Ans. (c). 806.67Ω and 0.27 A
Explanation: Power (P) = V2/R
R = V2/P
R = (220)2/60
R = 806.67Ω
Now, according to Ohm’s law,
V = IR
I = 220/806.67
I = 0.27 A
Ques 9. The temperature coefficient of resistance of a wire is 0.0012/°C. Its resistance is 1Ω at 300 K. At what temperature, its resistance will be 2Ω?
- 1133 K
- 854 K
- 1217 K
- 1154 K
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Ans. (a). 1133K
Explanation: Given, = 0.0012/°C
R300 = 1Ω
T1 = 300 K
R’ = 2Ω
Resistance at a temperature, R’ = R300 (1 + αΔT)
2 = 1 (1 + 0.0012 x ΔT)
ΔT = T’ - 300
ΔT = 833 + 300 = 1133 K
Ques 10. Two wires of the same metal have the same length but their cross-sections are in the ratio 3:1. They are joined in series. The resistance of thick wire is 10Ω . The total resistance of combination is:
- 10Ω
- 40Ω
- 20Ω
- 100Ω
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Ans. (b). 40Ω
Explanation: R1 = 10Ω , A1 : A2 = 3:1
R = ρL/A
R ∝ 1/A
So, R1/R2 = A2/A1 = ⅓
R2 = 3R1 = 3 x 10 = 30Ω
The resistance are in series, so,
Req = R1 + R2 = 30 + 10 = 40Ω
Ques 11. Specific resistance of a wire depends on the
- Length of the wire
- Area of cross-section of the wire
- Resistance of the wire
- Material of the wire
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Ans. (d). Material of the wire
Explanation: The resistivity or specific resistance of a material is an intensive property and depends only on the material and temperature.
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