According to Ohm's Law, if the resistance increases while the voltage remains constant, what happens to the current?

Study for the NCEA Level 2 Electricity Exam. Prepare with flashcards and multiple-choice questions; each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

According to Ohm's Law, which states that voltage (V) is equal to current (I) multiplied by resistance (R), we can express this relationship with the formula V = I × R. When voltage is held constant and resistance increases, we can rearrange the formula to find the current: I = V / R.

As the resistance (R) increases while keeping the voltage (V) constant, the denominator of the equation gets larger. Consequently, the value of I (current) must decrease because the same voltage is being divided by a larger resistance. This demonstrates that if resistance goes up, current must go down, leading to a decrease in current when the voltage remains unchanged.

Options suggesting the current increases, remains the same, or becomes unpredictable do not align with Ohm's Law, as each of those scenarios would imply a different relationship between voltage, current, and resistance that contradicts the fundamental principles laid out by Ohm's Law. Hence, recognizing that an increase in resistance leads to a decrease in current is essential for understanding electrical circuits and their behavior.

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