The resistance of a wire of radius is . If the resistivity of the material of the wire is , find the length of the wire.
The resistance of a wire of radius is . If the resistivity of the material of the wire is , find the length of the wire.
Official answer
The length of the wire is approximately (or ).
Marking scheme
- 1.Correct conversion of radius to meters and calculation of area (): 1.0 mark
- 2.Correct formula rearrangement () and substitution: 1.0 mark
- 3.Correct final calculation of length with units ( or ): 1.0 mark
Hint
First convert the radius from cm to m (), calculate the area using , and then use the formula .
Quick oral answer
Resistivity is an intrinsic property of a material that measures how strongly it opposes the flow of electric current, whereas resistance depends on both the material's resistivity and its physical dimensions (length and cross-sectional area).
Common mistakes
- 1.Forgetting to convert the radius from centimeters to meters, which leads to an error by a factor of in the final length.
- 2.Using the diameter formula instead of the radius formula for the area of cross-section.
Analysis and explanation
The resistance of a uniform conductor is directly proportional to its length and inversely proportional to its cross-sectional area (). Here, the radius is given in centimeters, so it must first be converted to meters () to maintain consistency with the SI unit of resistivity (). The cross-sectional area of a cylindrical wire is circular, given by . Substituting these values into the rearranged formula allows us to cancel out the terms, simplifying the calculation to yield a length of .
Interesting facts
Nichrome and other high-resistivity alloys are used to make heating elements because their high resistivity allows a relatively short length of wire to produce significant resistance and heat without melting.
Question details
Q15 of 36 questions
- Board
- CBSE
- Class
- Class 10
- Subject
- Science
- Year
- 2014
- Section
- Section SECTION-A
- Marks
- 3
- Type
- Short Answer
- Chapter
- Electricity
- Topic
- Factors on which Resistance Depends
- Bloom's level
- Apply
- Syllabus topic
- Factors on which the resistance of a conductor depends.
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Frequently asked questions
How many marks does this question carry in CBSE Class 10 Science 2014?
This question carries 3 marks in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2014 examination.
Which chapter does this question come from in Science?
This question is from the chapter "Electricity" in the CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus.
What topic does this question cover in Science?
This question covers the topic "Factors on which Resistance Depends" from CBSE Class 10 Science.
What type of question is this in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2014 paper?
This is a Short Answer question from Section SECTION-A in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2014 paper.