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Calculate the ratio of the resistance of an aluminum wire to the resistance of a copper wire, given that the diameter of the aluminum wire is ______ and the diameter of the copper wire is ______?

User Tbruyelle
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Final answer:

If aluminum and copper wires have the same resistance, the wire with the larger diameter is copper. The resistance of a wire is inversely proportional to its cross-sectional area.

Step-by-step explanation:

If aluminum and copper wires have the same resistance, the wire with the larger diameter is copper.

The resistance of a wire is inversely proportional to its cross-sectional area. Since resistance is the same for both wires, the wire with the larger diameter will have a larger cross-sectional area, and therefore a smaller resistance.

For example, if the diameter of the aluminum wire is 2 mm and the diameter of the copper wire is 4 mm, the ratio of their resistances would be 1:4.

User Shourya Shikhar
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