In a potentiometer, if the wire is made of a material with higher resistivity, what effect does it have on the potential gradient?
Correct Answer: Potential gradient increases.
- Step 1: Understand that a potentiometer is a device used to measure voltage by comparing it to a known voltage.
- Step 2: Know that the wire in the potentiometer has a certain resistivity, which affects its resistance.
- Step 3: Recognize that higher resistivity means the wire has more resistance.
- Step 4: Remember that for a given voltage, higher resistance leads to lower current (Ohm's Law: V = IR).
- Step 5: Realize that the potential gradient is the change in voltage per unit length of the wire.
- Step 6: Since lower current means that the voltage drop across the wire is spread out over the same length, the potential gradient increases.
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