DC circuitsQuestion 840 of 1506

A load is fed through long copper wires. On a hot day, the wire temperature rises. What happens to the load voltage and to the voltage drop across the wires?

  1. Load voltage goes up and wire voltage drop goes down.
  2. Load voltage goes down and the wire voltage drop goes up.
  3. Both go up.
  4. Neither changes.
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Correct answer: Load voltage goes down and the wire voltage drop goes up.

Hot copper has more resistance, so the wires drop more voltage and the load receives less.

Source: Lessons in Electric Circuits I: DC (Kuphaldt), 12.6: Temperature Coefficient of Resistance

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Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026