Understanding the Difference: Resistivity vs. Resistance

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SUMMARY

Resistivity and resistance are distinct electrical properties. Resistivity quantifies how a material opposes electric current, measured in ohm-meters (Ω·m), while resistance measures how a specific component, such as a resistor, impedes current flow, measured in ohms (Ω). For example, an iron resistor exhibits a resistance of 9 ohms, while the resistivity of iron is 1.0×10-7 Ω·m. Understanding these differences is crucial for electrical engineering and circuit design.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of electrical concepts
  • Familiarity with units of measurement in electricity
  • Knowledge of circuit components and their functions
  • Understanding of Ohm's Law
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  • Research the relationship between resistivity and temperature in materials
  • Explore the applications of different materials in resistor design
  • Learn about measuring resistance using a multimeter
  • Investigate the impact of resistivity on electrical conductivity
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Electrical engineers, physics students, and anyone interested in understanding the fundamentals of electrical properties and their applications in circuit design.

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What's the difference between resistivity and resistance?
 
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Resistivity is a measure of how well a particular substance or material opposes an electric current, whereas resistance measures how well a particular component in an electrical network resists an electric current.

So we can say that a resistor made of iron has a resistance of 9 ohm, and that iron has a resistivity of 1.0×10-7 (ohm×m). Notice that resistanse and resistivity is measured in different units.
 
thank you this is a great explanation
 

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