Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Physics

Chapter

Current Electricity

Question:

Two wires of equal diameters of resistivities ρ1 and ρ2 and lengths l1 and l2 respectively are joined in series. The equivalent resistivity of the combination is :

Options:

$\frac{\rho_1 l_1+\rho_2 l_2}{l_1+l_2}$

$\frac{\rho_1 l_2-\rho_2 l_1}{l_1-l_2}$

$\frac{\rho_1 l_2+\rho_2 l_1}{l_1+l_2}$

$\frac{\rho_1 l_1-\rho_2 l_2}{l_1-l_2}$

Correct Answer:

$\frac{\rho_1 l_1+\rho_2 l_2}{l_1+l_2}$

Explanation:

Resistance of a wire, $R=\frac{4 \rho l}{\pi D^2}$

Where $l$ is the length, D is the diameter and $\rho$ is the resistivity of the material of the wire.

As the wires are connected in series, then

$\frac{4 \rho_{S}\left(l_1+l_2\right)}{\pi D^2}=\frac{4 \rho_1 l_1}{\pi D^2}+\frac{4 \rho_2 l_2}{\pi D^2}$          [∵ Since the wires of same diameter]

Where $\rho_{S}$ is the equivalent resistivity

$\rho_{S}\left(l_1+l_2\right)=\rho_1 l_1+\rho_2 l_2$               or               $\rho_{S}=\frac{\rho_1 l_1+\rho_2 l_2}{l_1+l_2}$