Electrical Resistance
Electrical Resistance
Electrical Resistance
Any device in a circuit which converts electrical energy into some other form
impedes the current. The device which converts electrical energy to heat energy
is termed a resistor and its ability to impede current is termed resistance. So
resistance can be defined as the opposition to current motion through a
conductor or a device. The material/apparatus that caused this is called a
resistor.
What is a conductor?
Materials that has high electrical resistance and does not permit electricity to flow or
pass
through them are called insulators.
Resistance is measured in ohms (symbol Ω)). All materials at normal room temperature
have electrical resistance. If the material is classed as a conductor its resistance is
probably much less than 1000 ohms. If the material is classed as an insulator its
resistance
is probably well in excess of 20,000,000 ohms.
The current in a circuit can be changed by changing the value of the supply emf
(electromotive force or voltage) or the value of the resistance. If the supply emf is
increased but the resistance remains the same the current will increase. If the supply
emf
remains the same but the resistance is increased, the current will decrease.
Considering all these factors, we have the equation of resistivity which is expressed
ρl
mathematically as R= where R = resistivity
A
l = length of wire
ρ = resistivity constant of the material
A = cross-sectional area of the wire