Lesson 3.3.1

3.3.1 Resistivity and drift velocity of charge carriers Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Physics, Unit 3

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.3.1, Resistivity and drift velocity of charge carriers: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Physics (9PH0), Unit 3: Electric Circuits, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. In the wire resistance equation R = rho l / A, what does rho represent?

    • Density
    • Resistivity
    • Conductivity
    • Resistance

  2. What is the correct SI unit of electrical resistivity?

    • Ohm
    • Ohm per metre
    • Volt per metre
    • Ohm metre

  3. In the drift velocity equation I = nAvq, what does n represent?

    • Net charge
    • Neutron number
    • Number density
    • Number of electrons

  4. If the length of a uniform wire is doubled, with its cross-sectional area and resistivity unchanged, its resistance:

    • Quadruples
    • Halves
    • Doubles
    • Stays the same

  5. A wire of length 2.0 m and cross-sectional area 1.0 x 10^-6 m^2 is made of material of resistivity 1.7 x 10^-8 ohm m. What is its resistance?

    • 0.0085 ohm
    • 3.4 ohm
    • 0.17 ohm
    • 0.034 ohm

  6. A copper conductor carries a current of 2.0 A, has a cross-sectional area of 1.0 x 10^-6 m^2, a charge carrier density of 8.5 x 10^28 m^-3, and carriers of charge 1.6 x 10^-19 C. What is the drift velocity?

    • 6.8 x 10^-5 m s^-1
    • 1.5 x 10^-4 m s^-1
    • 1.5 x 10^-7 m s^-1
    • 1.5 m s^-1

  7. For a fixed current, what happens to drift velocity if a wire's cross-sectional area increases?

    • Quadruples
    • Increases
    • Remains unchanged
    • Decreases

  8. If the diameter of a uniform wire is doubled, what happens to its electrical resistance?

    • Decreases to one-quarter
    • Quadruples
    • Halves
    • Doubles

  9. Which property of a material is independent of the dimensions of a sample?

    • Length
    • Resistivity
    • Cross-sectional area
    • Resistance

  10. A wire of length 10 m and diameter 0.50 mm is made of material with resistivity 1.7 x 10^-8 ohm m. What is its resistance?

    • 0.087 ohm
    • 0.87 ohm
    • 0.43 ohm
    • 8.7 ohm

  11. Wire B has twice the length and half the diameter of wire A, and both are made of the same material. What is R_B/R_A?

    • 4
    • 2
    • 8
    • 16

  12. In the equation I = nAvq, how is current affected if n is doubled and v is halved?

    • Halves
    • Quadruples
    • Remains unchanged
    • Doubles

  13. Why does electric current respond almost instantly in a wire despite low electron drift speeds?

    • High drift velocity
    • Zero wire resistance
    • Rapid field propagation
    • Instant electron transfer

  14. A copper wire carries 3.0 A, has a cross-sectional area of 2.0 x 10^-6 m^2, and has n = 8.5 x 10^28 m^-3. What is the drift velocity, taking q = 1.6 x 10^-19 C?

    • 2.2 x 10^-4 m s^-1
    • 1.1 x 10^-2 m s^-1
    • 3.7 x 10^-5 m s^-1
    • 1.1 x 10^-4 m s^-1

  15. A graph of R against l for a uniform wire is a straight line through the origin. What does its gradient represent?

    • 1/(rho A)
    • rho/A
    • A/rho
    • rho x A

  16. Which factor does not affect the electrical resistance of a wire at a constant temperature?

    • Resistivity
    • Cross-sectional area
    • Length
    • Current

  17. A wire of resistivity 2.0 x 10^-7 ohm m and length 5.0 m has resistance 0.50 ohm. What is its cross-sectional area?

    • 4.0 x 10^-6 m^2
    • 1.0 x 10^-6 m^2
    • 5.0 x 10^-6 m^2
    • 2.0 x 10^-6 m^2

  18. A cylindrical wire of length 4.0 m has a resistance of 0.40 ohm and a cross-sectional area of 2.5 x 10^-6 m^2. What is its resistivity?

    • 2.5 x 10^-8 ohm m
    • 4.0 x 10^-7 ohm m
    • 2.5 x 10^-7 ohm m
    • 1.6 x 10^-7 ohm m

  19. A uniform wire of resistance 8.0 ohm is cut into two equal halves, which are connected in parallel. What is the combined resistance?

    • 4.0 ohm
    • 2.0 ohm
    • 16 ohm
    • 0.50 ohm

  20. Which change increases the drift velocity of charge carriers in a wire carrying a fixed current?

    • Decreasing cross-sectional area
    • Increasing cross-sectional area
    • Increasing wire length
    • Increasing carrier density

All Pearson Edexcel Physics quizzes