Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Resistivity is a measure of how strongly a material opposes the flow of electric current. It depends on the material's intrinsic properties, such as its composition and temperature.
Resistance is the measure of how much an object or material impedes the flow of electric current. It depends on both resistivity and the physical dimensions (length and cross-sectional area) of the object.
Conductivity: Conductivity is the opposite of resistivity. It measures how easily a material allows electric current to pass through it. Materials with high conductivity have low resistivity.
Ohm's Law: Ohm's Law states that there is a linear relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in an electrical circuit. It can be expressed as V = IR, where V is voltage, I is current, and R is resistance.