When measuring wire gauge in American Wire Gauge (AWG), how does circular mil relate?

When measuring wire gauge in American Wire Gauge (AWG), there is a direct relationship between the gauge numbers and the circular mil area. Larger AWG numbers indicate smaller circular mil areas, meaning that as the AWG number increases, the diameter of the wire decreases, which in turn results in a decrease in the circular mil area.

The concept of circular mil is a unit of area that represents the cross-sectional size of the wire, calculated as the area of a circle with a diameter of one mil (one-thousandth of an inch). Therefore, a wire with a larger gauge (higher number) has a smaller diameter and consequently a smaller circular mil area. This fundamental property of wire gauge is crucial for understanding wire sizing and its implications for current carrying capacity, resistance, and overall performance in electrical applications.

The other options do not accurately reflect the relationship between AWG and circular mil area. For instance, smaller AWG numbers do correlate with increased circular mils, but this fact is secondary to the primary relationship highlighted in the correct answer, which encapsulates the inverse relationship succinctly.