Practice question
Question
What causes the potential difference across a resistor to drop when current flows through it?
Explanation
**Potential difference drop** across resistor when current flows because charges lose potential energy qV = I² R t as heat, field E = V/l drives drift, maintaining current. At very high E, velocity saturation or heating changes τ, causing non-ohmic behaviour. Current through a resistor ( I = V / R ) causes a potential drop ( V = I R ) as electrical energy is converted to thermal energy due to collisions with lattice ions. Applying I = n e A v_d, R = ρ l/A, R_t = R₀[1+αΔT], Kirchhoff's ΣI=0, ΣV=0, R_eq series/parallel, V = ε - I r and P = I²R,
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