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electrical resistance

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bigquestion | 20:44 Tue 22nd Nov 2005 | Science
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Does resistance affect voltage aswell as current or does it only affect current?


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voltage is more of an "effect" than an actual thing such as electrons moving about (which is what current actually is). so, resistance is something that has an effect on current.

It affects both, an Ohm being the resistance between two points on a conductor when a constant potential difference of one volt, applied between these points, produces a current of one amp in the conductor. The more resistance in a conductor the more the voltage drop when supplying a load and corresponding less current flow. Increase the supply voltage or preferably reduce the conductor resistance to increase the current flow and end voltage.

Stanleyman is correct. Voltage is a cause not an effect. Without a potential difference (i.e. a voltage) no current will flow.
If electricity were water then voltage would be pressure; the deeper the water, (such as the depth of the water behind a dam), the greater the pressure. Current would be the flow of water from one point to another, such as through a pipe (conductor). Resistance would be a restriction to the flow of current, such as a constriction; (a thinner or longer pipe), or an accumulation of minerals or rust in a pipe. The greater the pressure (voltage) the greater the flow (current) through a certain size or length of pipe (resistance). Conversely, the greater the resistance, the smaller the flow (current) for a certain given pressure (voltage).
Anywhere along the length of the pipe (resistance) the pressure (voltage) measured would be reduced as you go further down the length of pipe, even though the flow (current) must be the same throughout the pipe from one end to the other.
Lots of technically correct answers here big, yet not one of them gives a simple answer to your question.

So. resistance does not affrect voltage.
god, fo3nix, u know a lot of stuff. are u in a PhD did u say? what r u doing?
heh. my answer was the same as gef's.

no, not doing a PhD. currently doing a masters degree in theoretical physics. hope to do a PhD though.
The voltage measured from a reference point to other points in a resistive circuit will vary. Also, most practical voltage sources have an internal resistance which will diminish the actual voltage supplied in proportion to the current drawn from them.
Resistance most certainly DOES affect voltage as descrived in every answer except those of gef and fo3nix.
yes, of course it does: Ohm's law, V=IR (hence Voltage is proportional to Resistance).

What I believe Gef and I were meaning is that voltage is not a physical thing (its not special particles moving about or anything like that), unlike current.
Sorry fo3nix forgot to acknowledge your first answer in my response. rojash, with respect, you are talking rubbish.

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