Practice question
Question
Why does the resistance of a conductor increase when its cross-sectional area is reduced?
Explanation
**Wheatstone bridge balance** condition R₁/R₂ = R₃/R₄, R₄ = R₂ R₃/R₁, when galvanometer current zero, potentials at midpoints equal. At balance, no current through galvanometer, enabling precise resistance measurement independent of source voltage. Resistance R = rho l / A . Reducing A increases R inversely, as fewer charge carriers can pass through a smaller area, increasing opposition to current flow. 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 Fewer paths for current,
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