1. What is Wire Resistance?

Wire resistance is the opposition to the flow of electric current through a conductor. It depends on the material's resistivity (ρ), the wire's length (L), and its cross-sectional area (A).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the resistance equation:

Where:

• \( R \) — Resistance in ohms (Ω)
• \( \rho \) — Resistivity of the material (Ω·m)
• \( L \) — Length of the wire (m)
• \( A \) — Cross-sectional area of the wire (m²)

Explanation: The resistance increases with length and decreases with cross-sectional area, following Ohm's Law principles.

3. Importance of Wire Resistance Calculation

Details: Calculating wire resistance is essential for proper circuit design, voltage drop calculations, and ensuring safe current carrying capacity in electrical systems.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Select the wire gauge (AWG), enter the length in meters, choose the material (or specify custom resistivity). All values must be valid (length > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is AWG?
A: AWG (American Wire Gauge) is a standardized wire gauge system used in North America for the diameters of round, solid, nonferrous, electrically conducting wire.

Q2: Why does resistance increase with temperature?
A: As temperature increases, the atoms in the conductor vibrate more, causing more collisions with moving electrons, which increases resistance.

Q3: What's the difference between resistance and resistivity?
A: Resistivity (ρ) is a material property, while resistance (R) depends on both the material's resistivity and the conductor's dimensions.

Q4: How does wire gauge affect resistance?
A: Larger gauge numbers (thinner wires) have higher resistance per unit length than smaller gauge numbers (thicker wires).

Q5: When should I use custom resistivity?
A: Use custom resistivity when working with materials not listed or when you have specific resistivity values for your application.