electrical resistance of an electrical conductor is the opposition to the passage of an electric current through that conductor; the inverse

quantity iselectrical conductance, the ease at which an electric current passes. Electrical resistance shares some conceptual parallels with the mechanical notion offriction. The SI unit of electrical resistance is the ohm (), while electrical conductance is measured in siemens (S). ohm (symbol: ) is the SI derived unit of electrical resistance, named after German physicist Georg Simon Ohm. Although several empirically derived standard units for expressing electrical resistance were developed in connection with early telegraphy practice, the British Association for the Advancement of Science proposed a unit derived from existing units of mass, length and time and of a convenient size for practical work as early as 1861. The definition of the "ohm" unit was revised several times. Today the value of the ohm is expressed in terms of the quantum Hall effect.

Definition[edit source | editbeta]

The ohm is defined as a resistance between two points of a conductor when a constant potential difference of 1 volt, applied to these points, produces in the conductor a current of 1 ampere, the conductor not being the seat of any electromotive force.[1]

where: V = volt A = ampere m = metre kg = kilogram s = second C = coulomb J = joule S = siemens F = farad In many cases the resistance of a conductor in ohms is approximately constant within a certain range of voltages, temperatures, and other parameters; one speaks of linear resistors. In other cases resistance varies (e.g., thermistors). Commonly used multiples and submultiples in electrical and electronic usage are the milliohm, kilohm, megohm, and gigaohm,[2] though the term 'gigohm', though not official, is in common use for the latter.[3]

In alternating current circuits, electrical impedance is also measured in ohms.

Conversions[edit source | editbeta]

The siemens (symbol: S) is the SI derived unit of electric conductance and admittance, also known as the mho (ohm spelled backwards, symbol is ); it is the reciprocal of resistance in ohms.

Power as a function of resistance[edit

source | editbeta]
The power dissipated by a linear resistor may be calculated from its resistance, and voltage or current. The formula is a combination of Ohm's law and Joule's law:

where: P = power in watts R = resistance in ohms V = voltage across the resistor I = current through the resistor in amps