Class Notes:Resistance
Resistance
● Definition: The opposition offered by a material to the flow of electric current.
● Formula:
1. Where:
■ = Resistance (in ohms, )
■ = Potential Difference (in volts, V)
■ = Current (in amperes, A)
● Factors Affecting Resistance:
1. Material: Conductors have low resistance; insulators have high resistance.
2. Length (L):
3. Cross-Sectional Area (A):
4. Temperature: Resistance usually increases with temperature.
● Ohm's Law:
● Measurement: Resistance is measured using an ohmmeter.
Key Concepts and Units
Quantity Symbol Unit Unit Symbol
Current Ampere
Potential Difference Volt
Resistance Ohm
Charge Coulomb
Work/Energy Joule
Applications
1. Electric Circuits: Understanding current, potential, and resistance helps in designing
and analyzing circuits.
2. Electronics: Essential in components like resistors, capacitors, and transistors.
3. Power Transmission: Used to minimize losses in power grids.
Practice Problems
1. Calculate the current if 10 C of charge flows through a wire in 2 seconds.
2. Determine the potential difference required to move 5 C of charge with 50 J of work.
3. A wire of 5 m length and cross-sectional area m² has a resistance of 10 . Find the
resistivity of the material.
