When resistance is decreased in a circuit, what is the expected effect on current flow?

When resistance is decreased in a circuit, the current flow is expected to increase. This phenomenon can be understood through Ohm's Law, which states that the current (I) flowing through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage (V) across the two points and inversely proportional to the resistance (R) of the conductor. The relationship can be expressed with the formula: I = V/R.

When resistance decreases while the voltage remains constant, the formula indicates that current must increase. This is because lowering the resistance creates less opposition to the flow of electric charge, allowing more current to pass through the circuit.

In practical terms, if you think of resistance as a narrow pathway for water, decreasing the resistance makes the pathway wider. Consequently, more water (or electrical current) can flow through the pathway. This concept is foundational in understanding how electrical circuits operate and is particularly important in electrical engineering and physics.