Resistance vs. Resistivity — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 8, 2024
Resistance measures how much a material opposes the flow of electric current, expressed in ohms, while resistivity is a material-specific property that quantifies how strongly a material opposes electric current, expressed in ohm-meters.
Difference Between Resistance and Resistivity
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Resistance is a property that quantifies how much an object opposes the flow of electric current, dependent on the object's material, shape, and size. In contrast, resistivity is an intrinsic property of a material itself, regardless of its shape or size, indicating how much the material resists electric current per unit length and area.
While resistance is calculated based on the resistivity, length, and cross-sectional area of a material (R = ρL/A), resistivity is a fundamental characteristic determined by the material's electron structure and temperature. Conversely, resistance is influenced by external factors like temperature, but also significantly by the physical dimensions of the material.
Resistivity is often used to classify materials as conductors, semiconductors, or insulators—each category having a typical resistivity range. On the other hand, resistance is a practical measure used in designing and analyzing electrical circuits, ensuring components operate safely under specified electrical currents.
Materials like copper and aluminum have low resistivities, making them excellent conductors. Conversely, materials such as rubber have high resistivities, which are used to insulate electrical components due to their high resistance to electrical current.
In terms of temperature dependence, resistivity generally increases with temperature in conductors due to increased electron scattering. Resistance also reflects this change, but the exact effect can depend on the material's length and cross-sectional changes with temperature, which are factors in the resistance formula.
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Comparison Chart
Units
Ohms (Ω)
Ohm-meters (Ω·m)
Dependency
Dependent on material, length, and area
Intrinsic property of the material
Affected by
Material, geometry, and temperature
Material type and temperature
Use
Measured in circuits to determine how much an object opposes current
Used to characterize material electrical properties
Example Materials
Resistance varies widely even within the same material
Copper: ~1.68 x 10^-8 Ω·m, Rubber: ~10^13 Ω·m
Compare with Definitions
Resistance
Opposes electric current flow.
A copper wire’s resistance determines how much current it allows through.
Resistivity
Measured in ohm-meters.
Pure iron has a resistivity of about 10^-7 ohm-meters.
Resistance
Measured in ohms.
A light bulb may have a resistance of about 240 ohms.
Resistivity
Determines usage in electrical components.
Materials with high resistivity are chosen for insulators.
Resistance
Affected by temperature.
Resistance in a wire increases as it gets hotter.
Resistivity
Intrinsic to material.
Silicon's resistivity makes it ideal for semiconductor devices.
Resistance
Depends on dimensions.
Thicker wires have lower resistance due to larger cross-sectional area.
Resistivity
Indicates how much a material resists electricity.
Gold's low resistivity is why it's good for electrical connectors.
Resistance
Critical in circuit design.
Designing a circuit requires knowing the resistance to manage current flow.
Resistivity
Influenced by temperature.
Most metals have higher resistivity at higher temperatures.
Resistance
The refusal to accept or comply with something
They displayed a narrow-minded resistance to change
Resistivity
The capacity for or tendency toward resistance.
Resistance
The ability not to be affected by something, especially adversely
Some of us have a lower resistance to cold than others
Resistivity
(Electricity) An intrinsic property of a material that is measured as its resistance to current per unit length for a uniform cross section.
Resistance
The impeding or stopping effect exerted by one material thing on another
Air resistance was reduced by streamlining
Resistivity
(electricity) The resistance offered at a particular temperature by an electrical conductor of any given material in a cube of unit length, expressed in ohm-metres (Ωm) in the metric system of measurement.
Resistance
The degree to which a substance or device opposes the passage of an electric current, causing energy dissipation. By Ohm's law resistance (measured in ohms) is equal to the voltage divided by the current.
Resistivity
(thermodynamics) The reciprocal of thermal conductivity, having SI unit: m K W-1
Resistance
The act or an instance of resisting or the capacity to resist.
Resistivity
A material's opposition to the flow of electric current; measured in ohms
Resistance
A force that tends to oppose or retard motion.
Resistance
Often Resistance An underground organization engaged in a struggle for national liberation in a country under military or totalitarian occupation.
Resistance
(Psychology) A process in which the ego opposes the conscious recall of anxiety-producing experiences.
Resistance
Ability (of an organism, tissue, or cell) to withstand a destructive agent or condition such as a chemical compound, a disease agent, or an environmental stressor
Antibiotic resistance.
Resistance to fungal diseases.
Drought resistance.
Resistance
Lack of normal response to a biologically active compound such as a hormone
Insulin resistance.
Resistance
(Electricity) The opposition of a body or substance to current passing through it, resulting in a change of electrical energy into heat or another form of energy.
Resistance
Thermal resistance.
Resistance
The act of resisting, or the capacity to resist.
Widespread resistance to the new urban development plans
The resistance of bacteria to certain antibiotics
Resistance
(physics) A force that tends to oppose motion.
Resistance
(physics) electrical resistance.
Resistance
An underground organisation engaged in a struggle for liberation from forceful occupation; a resistance movement.
Resistance
The act of resisting; opposition, passive or active.
When King Demetrius saw that . . . no resistance was made against him, he sent away all his forces.
Resistance
The quality of not yielding to force or external pressure; that power of a body which acts in opposition to the impulse or pressure of another, or which prevents the effect of another power; as, the resistance of the air to a body passing through it; the resistance of a target to projectiles.
Resistance
A means or method of resisting; that which resists.
Unfold to us some warlike resistance.
Resistance
A certain hindrance or opposition to the passage of an electrical current or discharge offered by conducting bodies. It bears an inverse relation to the conductivity, - good conductors having a small resistance, while poor conductors or insulators have a very high resistance. The unit of resistance is the ohm.
Resistance
The action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with;
He encountered a general feeling of resistance from many citizens
Despite opposition from the newspapers he went ahead
Resistance
Any mechanical force that tends to retard or oppose motion
Resistance
A material's opposition to the flow of electric current; measured in ohms
Resistance
The military action of resisting the enemy's advance;
The enemy offered little resistance
Resistance
(medicine) the condition in which an organism can resist disease
Resistance
A secret group organized to overthrow a government or occupation force
Resistance
The degree of unresponsiveness of a disease-causing microorganism to antibiotics or other drugs (as in penicillin-resistant bacteria)
Resistance
(psychiatry) an unwillingness to bring repressed feelings into conscious awareness
Resistance
An electrical device that resists the flow of electrical current
Resistance
Group action in opposition to those in power
Common Curiosities
What determines the resistance of a wire?
The resistance of a wire is determined by the material’s resistivity, the wire’s length, and its cross-sectional area.
How does resistivity affect an electrical circuit?
High resistivity materials are typically used to prevent unwanted current flow, while low resistivity materials are used where efficient current flow is needed.
Can resistance be changed?
Yes, resistance can be changed by altering the length, area, or material of a component, or by changing its temperature.
Why is resistivity important in material selection?
Resistivity helps determine whether a material is suitable as a conductor, semiconductor, or insulator in electrical and electronic applications.
What are practical applications of resistance?
Resistance is crucial in designing electrical circuits, controlling current flow, and ensuring safety of electrical systems.
Why is copper used widely in electrical wiring?
Copper’s low resistivity and high durability make it ideal for efficient and reliable electrical wiring.
What makes a material a good insulator?
High resistivity and low conductivity make materials good insulators, preventing unwanted electrical current flow.
What is the relationship between resistance and resistivity?
Resistance is calculated from resistivity by considering the material's length and the cross-sectional area, following the formula R = ρL/A.
How do temperature changes affect resistivity and resistance?
In conductors, both resistivity and resistance typically increase with temperature due to increased electron scattering.
Is resistivity always constant for a material?
Resistivity can vary with impurities, strain, and temperature, although it is generally consistent for a pure material under stable conditions.
Why do resistors have specific resistance values in circuits?
Specific resistance values allow precise control of current and voltage distribution within electronic circuits.
How is resistance measured in a circuit?
Resistance is typically measured using an ohmmeter, which applies a known voltage to calculate resistance based on the current that flows.
What units are used to measure resistance and resistivity?
Resistance is measured in ohms (Ω), while resistivity is measured in ohm-meters (Ω·m).
Can materials have zero resistivity?
Superconductors have zero resistivity at and below a critical temperature, allowing current to flow without any energy loss.
What is the effect of wire length on resistance?
Increasing the length of a wire increases its resistance, as there is more material for the current to pass through.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
