Final answer:
In a simple circuit, increasing resistance while maintaining a constant voltage leads to a decrease in current, according to Ohm's law. The relationship follows the formula I = V/R, where I is current, V is voltage, and R is resistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Given a constant supply voltage, if resistance increases in a simple circuit, the current will decrease. This is explained by Ohm's law, which states that current (I) is equal to the voltage (V) divided by the resistance (R). If the resistance increases and the voltage remains constant, the current must decrease accordingly. For example, doubling the resistance would cut the current in half, provided the voltage stays the same.
In the context of a practical application, if you wanted to increase the power dissipated in a circuit and you had the option between reducing the voltage or reducing the resistance with the current remaining constant, the choice would be to reduce the resistance to increase the power. This is because power dissipated (P) in a resistor is directly proportional to the square of the current (I2) and inversely proportional to resistance.