Practice question
Question
What happens to the current in a conductor if its cross-sectional area is doubled while keeping the
potential difference and length constant?
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. Resistance R = rho l / A . If A doubles, R becomes R/2 . Current I = V / R , so if R halves and V is constant, I doubles. 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, evaluation yields It
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