28 SCIENCE FOR TENTH CLASS : PHYSICS

B 110 × 10–8 m

C 2.60 × 10–8 m
D 10.0 × 10–8 m
E 1.70 × 10–8 m
(a) Which substance is the best conductor of electricity ? Why ?
(b) Which one is a better conductor : A or C ? Why ?
(c) Which substance would you advise to be used for making heating elements of electric irons ? Why ?
(d) Which two substances should be used for making electric wires ? Why ?

ANSWERS
1. Resistance decreases 2. Resistance gets doubled 5. Iron 7. Nichrome 11. (a) Long piece of nichrome
wire (b) Thin piece of nichrome wire 12. (a) Resistance decreases (b) Resistance increases 13. Ohms ;
increases ; increases ; decreases 14. (b) 31.4 × 10–8 m 15. (b) 0.036  16. (b) 86.5  17. Thick wire ;
1
Lesser electrical resistance 19. (b) 86  22. (i) Resistance becomes 3 times (ii) Resistance becomes th.
9
(iii) Resistance becomes 3 times 23. 8.0 × 10–8 m2 24. (e) 1.84 × 10–8 m, 25. (d) 26. (d) 27. (c)
28. (a) 29. (d) 30. (b) 31. (c) 32. (b) 33. 80  (Hint. In the new situation, length becomes 2l
A
and area of cross-section becomes ) 34. (a) Q ; Very low resistivity (b) R ; Very high resistivity (c) P;
2
Semiconductor 35. (a) C (b) A (c) B (d) D 36. (a) E ; Least electrical resistivity (b) C ; Lesser electrical
resistivity (c) B ; High electrical resistivity (d) C and E ; Low electrical resistivities

COMBINATION OF RESISTANCES (OR RESISTORS)

Apart from potential difference, current in a circuit depends
on resistance of the circuit. So, in the electrical circuits of radio,
television and other similar things, it is usually necessary to
combine two or more resistances to get the required current in the
circuit. We can combine the resistances lengthwise (called series)
or we can put the resistances parallel to one another. Thus, the
resistances can be combined in two ways : (i) in series, and (ii) in
parallel. If we want to increase the total resistance, then the
individual resistances are connected in series, and if we want to
decrease the resistance, then the individual resistances are connected
in parallel. We will study these two cases in detail, one by one.
Figure 22. This picture shows some of the
When two (or more) resistances are connected end to end
resistances (or resistors) . These can be
consecutively, they are said to be connected in series. Figure 23 connected in series or parallel combinations.
shows two resistances R1 and R2 which are connected in series. On

Figure 23. Two resistances (R1 and R2) Figure 24. Two resistances (R1 and R2)
connected in series. connected in parallel.
the other hand, when two (or more) resistances are connected between the same two points, they are said
to be connected in parallel (because they become parallel to one another). In Figure 24, the two resistances
R1 and R2 are connected in parallel arrangement between the same two points A and B. In the above
examples, we have shown only two resistances (or resistors) connected in series and parallel combinations.
We can, however, connect any number of resistors in these two arrangements.