How does current relate to resistance in a circuit when the resistance is decreased?

• A. Current increases
• B. Current decreases
• C. Current remains the same
• D. Current becomes zero

Answer: (A)

When resistance in a circuit is decreased, current increases due to Ohm's Law, which states that current (I) is equal to voltage (V) divided by resistance (R). This relationship is represented mathematically as I = V/R. When the resistance decreases, for a constant voltage, the value of I must increase to maintain the equation’s balance.

This means that if you have a battery providing a fixed voltage, and you reduce the resistance in the circuit—by, for instance, using a wire with a lower resistive material or shortening the length of the wire—more current can flow through the circuit. Essentially, the less opposition to the flow of electric charge (which is what resistance represents), the more current will flow as a result.

Understanding this relationship is crucial in electrical circuits, as it helps in calculating and predicting how changes in resistance will impact the total current flowing through the circuit.