Answer to Question #282890 in Electric Circuits for Jam

Question

Explain resistance

Answer 1

The electrical resistance of an object is a measure of its opposition to the flow of electric current.

The larger resistance, the greater the barrier against the flow of current.

When the potential difference is applied to a conductor, the current starts flowing, or the free electrons start moving. While moving, the free electrons collide with the atoms and molecules of the conductor.

Due to collision or obstruction, the rate of flow of electrons or electric current is restricted. Hence, we can say that there is some opposition to the flow of electrons or current. Thus, this opposition offered by a substance to the flow of electric current is called resistance.

The resistance of conducting material is found to be—

• directly proportional to the length of the material
• inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area of the material
• depends on the nature of the material
• It depends on the temperature