Electrical Resistance

INTRODUCTION
In a conductor, the charge carriers are the free electrons that are moved due to the voltage of an externally
applied source. As these electrons move through the material, they constantly collide with atoms and other
electrons within the conductor. In a process similar to friction, the moving electrons give up some of their
energy in the form of heat. These collisions represent an opposition to charge movement that is called
resistance. The greater the opposition (i.e., the greater the resistance), the smaller will be the current for a
given applied voltage.

2.1 RESISTANCE
RESISTANCE
It may be defined as the property of a substance due to which it opposes (or restricts) the flow of electricity
through it.
Opposition – due to collisions and friction between free electrons
Collision and friction – convert electrical energy into HEAT.
Electric friction is similar to friction in mechanics.
Metals (as a class), acids and solutions are good conductor of electricity. Amongst pure metals, silver,
copper and aluminum are very good conductors in the given order.
This is due to the presence of a large number of free or loosely-attached electrons in their atoms. These
electrons while flowing pass through the molecules or the atoms of the conductor collides.
Those substances which offer relatively greater difficulty or hindrance to the passage of these electrons are
said to be relatively poor conductors of electricity like bakelite, mica, glass, rubber, p.v.c. and dry wood, etc.
Amongst good insulators can be include fibrous substance such as paper and cotton when dry, mineral oils
free from acids and water, ceramics.

2.2 UNIT OF RESISTANCE

The resistance is denoted by the symbol “R” and practically, the unit of resistance R is “Ohm”, named in
honor of Georg Simon Ohm and is usually abbreviated by the Ω (capital omega) symbol. A conductor is said
to have a resistance of one ohm if it permits one ampere current to flow through it when one volt is
impressed across its terminals.
A conductor is said to have a resistance of one ohm if it
permits one ampere current to flow through it when one
volt is impressed across its terminals.

An element that has a resistance R is called a resistor.

A resistor is an electrical component with a predetermined
Electrical resistance.

A resistor is represented by the two-

terminal symbol shown in figure 2.1.
2.3 THE LAW OF RESISTANCE

The resistance R offered by a conductor depends on the following factors:

(a) It varies directly as its Length (L).

If we were to double the length of the wire, we can expect that the number of collisions over
the length of the wire would double, thereby causing the resistance to double.
R∝L
• Measured in meters (m) or feet (ft)
• Denoted by “L”

(b) It varies inversely as the cross-sectional area (A) of the conductor.

As the cross-sectional area is increased, the moving electrons are able to move more freely
through the conductor, just as water moves more freely through a large diameter pipe than a
small diameter pipe.
If the cross-sectional area is doubled, the electrons would be
involved in half as many collisions over the length of the wire.
R ∝ 1/A
• Denoted by “A”
• Measured in “square meter or circular mil”