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Two pieces of metallic wire having equal lengths and equal volume placed in air have different resistances. The two wires must
Explanation
The resistance (R) of a metallic wire is determined by the formula R = ρ(L/A), where ρ is the resistivity, L is the length, and A is the cross-sectional area [c2][t5]. The volume (V) of a uniform wire is given by V = A × L. Since the problem states both wires have equal lengths (L) and equal volumes (V), their cross-sectional areas (A = V/L) must also be identical. Consequently, the geometric factors (L and A) are the same for both wires. According to Ohm's law and resistivity principles, if the dimensions are identical but the resistances differ, the difference must arise from the intrinsic property of the material, known as resistivity (ρ) [c2][t3]. Resistivity depends on the nature of the material and temperature [c2][t9]. Therefore, for two wires of identical dimensions to have different resistances in the same environment, they must be made of different materials.
Sources
- [1] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: Electricity > Activity 11.3 > p. 178
SIMILAR QUESTIONS
Two metallic wires A and B are of same material and have equal length. If the cross-sectional area of B is double that of A, then which one among the following is the electrical resistance of B?
Two metallic wires made from copper have the same length, but the radius of wire 1 is half that of wire 2. The resistance of wire 1 is R. If both the wires are joined together in series, the total resistance becomes:
- (A) 2R
- (B) 1.25R
- (C) 0.5R
- (D) 1.33R