What happens to the potential difference across a segment of a potentiometer wire if the resistance of the wire is increased?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What happens to the potential difference across a segment of a potentiometer wire if the resistance of the wire is increased?
It increases.
It decreases.
It remains the same.
It becomes zero.
Increasing the resistance of the wire decreases the current, which in turn decreases the potential difference across any segment of the wire.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What happens to the potential difference across a segment of a potentiometer wire if the resistance of the wire is increased?
Solution: Increasing the resistance of the wire decreases the current, which in turn decreases the potential difference across any segment of the wire.
Steps: 5
Step 1: Understand that a potentiometer wire is used to measure potential difference (voltage).
Step 2: Know that the potential difference across a wire depends on the current flowing through it and its resistance.
Step 3: Remember Ohm's Law, which states that Voltage (V) = Current (I) x Resistance (R).
Step 4: If the resistance of the wire is increased, the current flowing through the wire will decrease (assuming the voltage supply remains constant).
Step 5: Since the current decreases and the resistance increases, the potential difference across any segment of the wire will also decrease.
