Step 1: Concept
The resistance \( R \) of a conductor is given by the formula:
\[R = \rho \frac{L}{A}\]
where \( \rho \) is the resistivity of the material, \( L \) is the length of the wire, and \( A \) is the cross-sectional area of the wire.
Step 2: Meaning
Resistivity (\( \rho \)) is a property of the material that does not change with the dimensions of the conductor. The resistance depends on the length and the cross-sectional area of the conductor.
Step 3: Analysis
When a wire is stretched to double its original length, several changes occur:
1. The length \( L \) of the wire doubles.
2. The volume of the wire remains constant because it is only being reshaped without any loss or gain in material.
3. Since the volume \( V = A \cdot L \), doubling the length while keeping the volume constant means that the cross-sectional area \( A \) must halve.
Thus, the new resistance \( R' \) can be calculated as:
\[R' = \rho \frac{2L}{A/2} = 4 \rho \frac{L}{A} = 4R\]
Step 4: Conclusion
Doubling the length of a wire and halving its cross-sectional area quadruples the resistance.
Final Answer: (A)