Class 10 Physics simulations · Electricity

Resistance of a wire

Change the material, length and thickness of a wire and see how its resistance and the current change.

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What to notice

Resistance doubles when length doubles, and becomes one-fourth when the diameter doubles. Nichrome resists far more than copper.

Key relation

R = ρ l / A, A = π d² / 4, I = V / R

Try this

Double the length, then double the diameter. Which change matters more?

What you can change

• Material: choose Copper, Aluminium, Iron, Nichrome
• Length l: 0.1 to 5 m
• Diameter d: 0.1 to 2 mm
• Cell voltage: 1.5 to 12 V

More in Electricity

• Cells in series and parallel
• Ohm’s law circuit
• Electric power and the electricity bill
• Electron drift in a wire
• Series and parallel resistors

See all Class 10 Physics simulations or every Physica simulation.