Will current flow more easily through a thick wire or a thin wire of the same material, when connected to the same source? Why?

Current will flow more easily through a thick wire compared to a thin wire of the same material when connected to the same source. This is due to the relationship between resistance, current, and the dimensions of the conductor.

According to Ohm’s Law ( R = V/I ), the resistance (R) of a conductor is inversely proportional to its cross-sectional area (A), given a constant resistivity (ρ) and length (L). The formula for resistance is:

R =ρ L/A

Here:

» R is resistance,
» ρ is the resistivity of the material,
» L is the length of the conductor, and
» A is the cross-sectional area.
Since resistance is inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area (A), a thicker wire with a larger cross-sectional area will have lower resistance compared to a thinner wire of the same material and length.

Lower resistance means that the wire offers less opposition to the flow of electric current. Therefore, current will flow more easily through the thicker wire, and it will experience less voltage drop along its length. This is why thicker wires are often used for applications where low resistance and efficient current flow are important, such as in power transmission lines.