In an electrical circuit, what does increasing the resistance do to the current, assuming voltage remains constant?

Increasing the resistance in an electrical circuit while keeping the voltage constant results in a decrease in the current. This relationship is defined by Ohm's Law, which states that current (I) is equal to voltage (V) divided by resistance (R), expressed mathematically as I = V/R.

When the voltage is held constant and the resistance is increased, the denominator in this equation grows larger. Consequently, since the voltage remains unchanged, the overall value of the current must decrease. This illustrates how resistance opposes the flow of electrical charge, thereby reducing the amount of current that can flow through the circuit.

Understanding this principle is fundamental in circuit analysis and design, as it highlights the inverse relationship between resistance and current in accordance with Ohm's Law.