resistance
rih-ZIS-tunss
/rɪˈzɪstəns/
The opposition to the flow of electric current through a conductor, measured in ohms.
Higher resistance generates heat as electrons collide with molecular structures inside the material.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'resistentia', built from 'resistere' (to stand back or oppose). Modern electrical usage was standardized by Georg Ohm in 1827 when defining how conductors resist electron movement.
Word relationships
- impedance: Impedance includes total AC opposition (resistance plus reactance); resistance is pure DC opposition.
- friction: Friction is mechanical surface opposition; resistance is atomic opposition to electron flow.
- conductance: Conductance measures how easily electricity flows, the direct mathematical reciprocal of resistance.
Commonly confused with
- continuity: Continuity tests whether a path is open or closed; resistance measures how strongly that path resists flow.
Word family
- resistor (noun): An electrical component designed to introduce controlled resistance.
- resistive (adjective): Having or exhibiting electrical resistance.
Collocations
- high resistance
- low resistance
- internal resistance
- electrical resistance
Idioms & expressions
- path of least resistance (the easiest way to accomplish something)
Example sentences
- "Corroded copper terminals create high resistance, generating localized heat and dropping line voltage." Electrical Diagnostic
- "Ohm's Law states that current is directly proportional to voltage and inversely proportional to resistance." Textbook Physics (Fundamentals of Physics)
Memory hook
RESISTANCE RESISTS the current from speeding through the line easily. Opposition to electric current flow.
When not to use
Do not confuse electrical resistance with political resistance or medical antibiotic resistance.
Fun facts
- Superconductors lose all electrical resistance when cooled near absolute zero (-459°F).
Related words
Explore more words
impedance, conductivity, stability, Mass, attenuation, resonance
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