Question

A circuit is set up such that it has a current of 8 A. What would be the new current if the resistance was increased by a factor of 2?

Answer 1

4 A

Step-by-step explanation:

The relationship between current, voltage and resistance in a circuit is given by Ohm's law:

`V=RI`

where

V is the voltage

R is the resistance

I is the current

The equation can also be rewritten as

`I=(V)/(R)`

from which we see that the current is inversely proportional to the resistance, R.

In this problem, the initial current is I = 8 A. Then the resistance is doubled:

R ' = 2R

So the new current is

`I'=(V)/(R')=(V)/(2R)=(1)/(2)((V)/(R))=(I)/(2)=4 A`

so the current is halved.