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You must have had electric shocks! Haven’t you?

Did you get the shock


on a plastic wire? It is not possible. You can’t get shocks from plastic
wires. But, why is it so? It is because of a phenomenon that we will read
about in this chapter. We will study about resistivity of
various materials.

What is Resistance?
We know that electric current that flows in a circuit is as similar to the
water flowing through a river. In a river rock, branches and other
particles resist the flow of water. in a very similar fashion, a circuit has
elements to resist the flow of electrons.

Browse more Topics under Current Electricity

 Electric Current
 Ohm’s Law
 Electrical Energy and Power
 Temperature Dependence of Resistivity
 Drift of Electrons and the Origin of Resistivity
 Combination of Resistors – Series and Parallel
 Atmospheric Electricity and Kirchhoff’s Law
 Wheatstone Bridge, Meter Bridge and Potentiometer
 Cells, EMF, Internal Resistance
 Cells in Series and Parallel
Resistance is nothing but this property of resisting the flow of electrons
or the current. The unit of resistance is ohm. One ohm is equal to volt
per ampere. From Ohm’s law, we have seen that R = V / I, Where V is
the voltage and I is the current.

Resistors are used to resist or control the flow of electrons by the


conductive material. They do not provide any power to the circuit. They
may reduce the voltage and current passing through the circuit. Hence,
resistors are passive devices. Most of the resistors are made up
of carbon, metal or metal oxide film.

Resistivity
Resistivity is the resistance per unit length and cross-sectional area. It is
the property of the material that opposes the flow of charge or the flow
of electric current. The unit of resistivity is ohm meter.

We know that R = ρ L / A. Thus we can derive the expression for


resistivity from this formula. ρ = R A / L, where R is the resistance in
ohms, A is the area of cross-section in square meters and L is the length
in meters. When the values of L, the length, and A, the area is equal to
one, we can say that the resistivity is equal to the resistance.
So, resistivity is the specific resistance of a material. When we have a
thick wire, the resistance decreases. The resistance increases when the
wire is thin as the area of cross-section is less. When the length of the
wire increases, the resistance also increases. When the length of the
wire decreases, the resistance decreases as the length is less.

The Resistivity of Various Materials


A material with high resistivity means it has got high resistance and will
resist the flow of electrons. A material with low resistivity means it has
low resistance and thus the electrons flow smoothly through the
material.

For example, Copper and Aluminium have low resistivity. Good


conductors have less resistivity. Insulators have a high resistivity. The
resistivity of semiconductors lies between conductors and insulators.
Gold is a good conductor of electricity and so it has low resistivity.

The glass is a good insulator which does not allow the flow of electrons.
Hence, it has a high resistivity. Silicon is a semiconductor and so it
allows partial movements of electrons. The Resistivity of Silicon comes
between glass and gold. The resistivity for perfect conductors is zero
and the resistivity for perfect insulators is infinite.

Solved Examples for You


Question 1: The resistivity of alloys is ______ than its
constituent elements.

A. Higher
B. Lower
C. Same
D. None
Answer: Option A – Higher. Metal alloy has a greater resistivity than
the corresponding metals because of lattice distortion from the alloying
elements. A metal with no alloying elements would transport electron
by drift oscillation over the lattice.

The difference in atomic radii of alloying elements and in


electronegativity from base metal, the presence of alloying element
changes the local electronic structure of the base metal. Such change
modulates the typical drift oscillation mechanism in electron conduction
by scattering and leads to higher resistance.

Question 2: Name three materials or substances that have good


resistance.
Answer: Insulators have good resistance. Examples include glass,
ceramics, wood etc.

You must have had electric shocks! Haven’t you? Did you get the shock
on a plastic wire? It is not possible. You can’t get shocks from plastic
wires. But, why is it so? It is because of a phenomenon that we will read
about in this chapter. We will study about resistivity of
various materials.

What is Resistance?
We know that electric current that flows in a circuit is as similar to the
water flowing through a river. In a river rock, branches and other
particles resist the flow of water. in a very similar fashion, a circuit has
elements to resist the flow of electrons.

Browse more Topics under Current Electricity

 Electric Current
 Ohm’s Law
 Electrical Energy and Power
 Temperature Dependence of Resistivity
 Drift of Electrons and the Origin of Resistivity
 Combination of Resistors – Series and Parallel
 Atmospheric Electricity and Kirchhoff’s Law
 Wheatstone Bridge, Meter Bridge and Potentiometer
 Cells, EMF, Internal Resistance
 Cells in Series and Parallel
Resistance is nothing but this property of resisting the flow of electrons
or the current. The unit of resistance is ohm. One ohm is equal to volt
per ampere. From Ohm’s law, we have seen that R = V / I, Where V is
the voltage and I is the current.

Resistors are used to resist or control the flow of electrons by the


conductive material. They do not provide any power to the circuit. They
may reduce the voltage and current passing through the circuit. Hence,
resistors are passive devices. Most of the resistors are made up
of carbon, metal or metal oxide film.
Resistivity
Resistivity is the resistance per unit length and cross-sectional area. It is
the property of the material that opposes the flow of charge or the flow
of electric current. The unit of resistivity is ohm meter.

We know that R = ρ L / A. Thus we can derive the expression for


resistivity from this formula. ρ = R A / L, where R is the resistance in
ohms, A is the area of cross-section in square meters and L is the length
in meters. When the values of L, the length, and A, the area is equal to
one, we can say that the resistivity is equal to the resistance.

So, resistivity is the specific resistance of a material. When we have a


thick wire, the resistance decreases. The resistance increases when the
wire is thin as the area of cross-section is less. When the length of the
wire increases, the resistance also increases. When the length of the
wire decreases, the resistance decreases as the length is less.
The Resistivity of Various Materials
A material with high resistivity means it has got high resistance and will
resist the flow of electrons. A material with low resistivity means it has
low resistance and thus the electrons flow smoothly through the
material.

For example, Copper and Aluminium have low resistivity. Good


conductors have less resistivity. Insulators have a high resistivity. The
resistivity of semiconductors lies between conductors and insulators.
Gold is a good conductor of electricity and so it has low resistivity.

The glass is a good insulator which does not allow the flow of electrons.
Hence, it has a high resistivity. Silicon is a semiconductor and so it
allows partial movements of electrons. The Resistivity of Silicon comes
between glass and gold. The resistivity for perfect conductors is zero
and the resistivity for perfect insulators is infinite.

Solved Examples for You


Question 1: The resistivity of alloys is ______ than its
constituent elements.

E. Higher
F. Lower
G. Same
H. None
Answer: Option A – Higher. Metal alloy has a greater resistivity than
the corresponding metals because of lattice distortion from the alloying
elements. A metal with no alloying elements would transport electron
by drift oscillation over the lattice.

The difference in atomic radii of alloying elements and in


electronegativity from base metal, the presence of alloying element
changes the local electronic structure of the base metal. Such change
modulates the typical drift oscillation mechanism in electron conduction
by scattering and leads to higher resistance.

Question 2: Name three materials or substances that have good


resistance.
Answer: Insulators have good resistance. Examples include glass,
ceramics, wood etc.

You must have had electric shocks! Haven’t you? Did you get the shock
on a plastic wire? It is not possible. You can’t get shocks from plastic
wires. But, why is it so? It is because of a phenomenon that we will read
about in this chapter. We will study about resistivity of
various materials.

What is Resistance?
We know that electric current that flows in a circuit is as similar to the
water flowing through a river. In a river rock, branches and other
particles resist the flow of water. in a very similar fashion, a circuit has
elements to resist the flow of electrons.
Browse more Topics under Current Electricity

 Electric Current
 Ohm’s Law
 Electrical Energy and Power
 Temperature Dependence of Resistivity
 Drift of Electrons and the Origin of Resistivity
 Combination of Resistors – Series and Parallel
 Atmospheric Electricity and Kirchhoff’s Law
 Wheatstone Bridge, Meter Bridge and Potentiometer
 Cells, EMF, Internal Resistance
 Cells in Series and Parallel
Resistance is nothing but this property of resisting the flow of electrons
or the current. The unit of resistance is ohm. One ohm is equal to volt
per ampere. From Ohm’s law, we have seen that R = V / I, Where V is
the voltage and I is the current.

Resistors are used to resist or control the flow of electrons by the


conductive material. They do not provide any power to the circuit. They
may reduce the voltage and current passing through the circuit. Hence,
resistors are passive devices. Most of the resistors are made up
of carbon, metal or metal oxide film.
Resistivity
Resistivity is the resistance per unit length and cross-sectional area. It is
the property of the material that opposes the flow of charge or the flow
of electric current. The unit of resistivity is ohm meter.

We know that R = ρ L / A. Thus we can derive the expression for


resistivity from this formula. ρ = R A / L, where R is the resistance in
ohms, A is the area of cross-section in square meters and L is the length
in meters. When the values of L, the length, and A, the area is equal to
one, we can say that the resistivity is equal to the resistance.

So, resistivity is the specific resistance of a material. When we have a


thick wire, the resistance decreases. The resistance increases when the
wire is thin as the area of cross-section is less. When the length of the
wire increases, the resistance also increases. When the length of the
wire decreases, the resistance decreases as the length is less.
The Resistivity of Various Materials
A material with high resistivity means it has got high resistance and will
resist the flow of electrons. A material with low resistivity means it has
low resistance and thus the electrons flow smoothly through the
material.

For example, Copper and Aluminium have low resistivity. Good


conductors have less resistivity. Insulators have a high resistivity. The
resistivity of semiconductors lies between conductors and insulators.
Gold is a good conductor of electricity and so it has low resistivity.

The glass is a good insulator which does not allow the flow of electrons.
Hence, it has a high resistivity. Silicon is a semiconductor and so it
allows partial movements of electrons. The Resistivity of Silicon comes
between glass and gold. The resistivity for perfect conductors is zero
and the resistivity for perfect insulators is infinite.

Solved Examples for You


Question 1: The resistivity of alloys is ______ than its
constituent elements.

I. Higher
J. Lower
K. Same
L. None
Answer: Option A – Higher. Metal alloy has a greater resistivity than
the corresponding metals because of lattice distortion from the alloying
elements. A metal with no alloying elements would transport electron
by drift oscillation over the lattice.

The difference in atomic radii of alloying elements and in


electronegativity from base metal, the presence of alloying element
changes the local electronic structure of the base metal. Such change
modulates the typical drift oscillation mechanism in electron conduction
by scattering and leads to higher resistance.

Question 2: Name three materials or substances that have good


resistance.
Answer: Insulators have good resistance. Examples include glass,
ceramics, wood etc.

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