Target Exam

CUET

Subject

General Aptitude Test

Chapter

General Knowledge

Topic

Physics

Question:

The resistance of a conductor depends on which of the following factors?

(A) Its length
(B) Its weight
(C) Its area of cross-section
(D) The nature of its material

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Options:

(A), (B) and (C) only

(A), (B) and (D) only

(A), (C) and (D) only

(B), (C) and (D) only

Correct Answer:

(A), (C) and (D) only

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (3) → (A), (C) and (D) only

The resistance ($R$) of a conductor depends on several physical properties of the material and its dimensions. These relationships are defined by the formula:

$R = \rho \frac{l}{A}$

Where:

  • $R$ is the Resistance.
  • $\rho$ (rho) is the Resistivity (nature of the material).
  • $l$ is the Length.
  • $A$ is the Area of cross-section.

Step-by-Step Breakdown:

  • (A) Its length: Resistance is directly proportional to length ($R \propto l$). If the length increases, the electrons have to travel a longer distance, encountering more collisions.
  • (B) Its weight: Resistance does not depend on the weight of the conductor. While weight is a property of the mass, it does not directly affect the flow of electrons.
  • (C) Its area of cross-section: Resistance is inversely proportional to the area of cross-section ($R \propto 1/A$). A thicker wire (larger area) provides more space for electrons to flow, reducing resistance.
  • (D) The nature of its material: Different materials have different atomic structures, which determines their resistivity ($\rho$). For example, copper has much lower resistance than iron for the same dimensions.

Conclusion:

The factors are (A), (C), and (D)