Lesson 3.5.1.3

3.5.1.3 Resistivity Quiz: AQA Physics, Unit 5

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.5.1.3, Resistivity: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Physics (7408), Unit 5: Electricity, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Resistivity rho of a material is given by which expression?

    • rho = L / (R A)
    • rho = R / (L A)
    • rho = R A / L
    • rho = R L / A

  2. The SI unit of resistivity is:

    • ohm m
    • ohm m^2
    • ohm m^-1
    • ohm per second

  3. The resistance of a metal conductor increases with temperature because:

    • the metal resistance falls to zero at room temperature
    • more free electrons are released from the metal
    • lattice ion vibrations increase and scatter the electrons more
    • the resistance of metals is independent of temperature

  4. An ntc thermistor's resistance:

    • increases as its temperature increases
    • is independent of its temperature
    • decreases as its temperature increases
    • drops only above 100 degrees Celsius

  5. A superconductor has:

    • zero resistivity at and below its critical temperature
    • zero resistivity at absolute zero for all materials
    • maximum resistivity at its critical temperature
    • the same resistivity as copper at all temperatures

  6. A copper wire has length 2.0 m, cross-sectional area 1.0 x 10^-6 m^2, and resistance 0.034 ohm. What is its resistivity?

    • 1.7 x 10^-8 ohm m
    • 3.4 x 10^-8 ohm m
    • 1.7 x 10^-6 ohm m
    • 8.5 x 10^-9 ohm m

  7. A copper wire of resistivity 1.7 x 10^-8 ohm m is 5.0 m long with area 2.0 x 10^-6 m^2. What is its resistance?

    • 0.0043 ohm
    • 4.3 ohm
    • 0.43 ohm
    • 0.043 ohm

  8. A 1.0 m wire of diameter 0.50 mm has resistance 0.80 ohm. What is the resistivity?

    • 6.3 x 10^-7 ohm m
    • 1.6 x 10^-7 ohm m
    • 1.6 x 10^-9 ohm m
    • 1.6 x 10^-5 ohm m

  9. A wire's length is doubled and its cross-sectional area is also doubled. Its resistance becomes:

    • twice as great as before
    • half as great as before
    • the same as before
    • four times as great as before

  10. A thermistor's resistance falls from 500 ohm at 20 degrees Celsius to 100 ohm at 60 degrees Celsius. Which statement is correct?

    • The resistance at 60 degrees is five times that at 20 degrees
    • The resistance at 60 degrees is half that at 20 degrees
    • The resistance at 60 degrees is twice that at 20 degrees
    • The resistance at 60 degrees is one fifth of that at 20 degrees

  11. Superconductors reduce energy loss in power transmission because:

    • they remove the need for conductors
    • they have infinite resistance that stops current leaking
    • they have zero resistance, so I^2 R heating is negligible
    • they increase voltage without current

  12. Superconducting electromagnets can produce very strong magnetic fields because:

    • they need fewer turns of wire
    • they increase the resistance of the coil
    • they carry large currents with no resistive heating
    • they insulate the coil from magnetic flux

  13. Which set of measurements is needed to determine the resistivity of a wire?

    • diameter from a micrometer, length of wire, and resistance from V/I
    • temperature and mass only
    • length and power only
    • density and current only

  14. Which quantity is independent of the length of a wire at fixed temperature?

    • the current for a fixed voltage
    • resistance
    • resistivity
    • the extension of the wire

  15. A metal wire is cooled. Its resistivity:

    • decreases
    • stays the same
    • increases
    • becomes negative

  16. Nichrome has resistivity 1.1 x 10^-6 ohm m and copper 1.7 x 10^-8 ohm m. For wires of the same dimensions, how many times greater is nichrome's resistance?

    • about 6.5 times
    • about 650 times
    • about 65 times
    • about 0.015 times

  17. A 5.0 m wire of cross-sectional area 0.40 mm^2 has resistivity 5.0 x 10^-7 ohm m. What is its resistance?

    • 3.1 ohm
    • 6.3 ohm
    • 0.63 ohm
    • 63 ohm

  18. A thermistor has 2.0 kohm at 25 degrees Celsius and 0.5 kohm at a higher temperature. With 5 V held across it, how does the current change?

    • It decreases to 0.4 mA
    • It increases by a factor of two
    • It increases fourfold, from 2.5 mA to 10 mA
    • It increases by 1.5 mA only

  19. Why does the resistance of an ntc thermistor fall as its temperature rises?

    • More charge carriers are released from the semiconductor as temperature rises.
    • The lattice ions move further apart, which frees more electrons.
    • Its resistivity is equal to that of a superconductor at high temperature.
    • Its length shortens as it warms up.

  20. A student claims superconductors have zero resistance at all temperatures. Which response is best?

    • Incorrect: a superconductor has zero resistivity only at and below its critical temperature, which depends on the material.
    • Correct: all superconductors have zero resistance above room temperature.
    • Incorrect: superconductors have high resistivity only above their critical temperature.
    • Correct: superconductors have zero resistivity at all temperatures.

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