Difference Between Resistance and Resistivity

Edited By Vishal kumar | Updated on Jul 02, 2025 04:28 PM IST

We know that electric currents pass through some materials but do we know that there are some materials that oppose the flow of Electric Current? This opposition is called Resistance While resistivity, on the other hand, is a material property that can give information on how much that material naturally opposes the flow of current for it in terms of its size and shape. But before we go any further, let’s see what resistance and resistivity are, how they are connected to length, area, and temperature, and why they are useful.

This Story also Contains

What is Resistivity?
What is Resistance?
Difference Between Resistance and Resistivity

Difference Between Resistance and Resistivity

What is Resistivity?

Resistivity definition or Resistivity meaning - The resistivity of a substance is defined as the resistance of a cube of that substance with unit-length edges, with the assumption that current flows normally to opposite faces and is dispersed uniformly across them.

At a given temperature, electrical resistivity is defined as the electrical resistance per unit length and cross-sectional area.

The ohm metre (m) is the SI unit for electrical resistivity. The Greek letter $ρ$ rho is widely used to represent it. Resistivity has real-world implications.

The ability to use the proper materials in the right places in electrical and electronic components is dependent on the resistivity of materials.

Conductive materials, like those used in electrical and general connecting wires, must have a low level of resistance. This means that the wire's resistance will be low for a given cross-sectional area. Knowing the characteristics of a material, such as its resistivity, is essential for choosing the right one

Related Topics,

What is Resistance?

Resistance in an electrical circuit is the amount of resistance to current flow (also known as ohmic resistance or electrical resistance). Resistance in ohms is represented by the Greek letter omega (Ω).

"A quality of an electric circuit or a component of an electric circuit that converts electric energy into thermal energy in the presence of an opposing electric current is known as resistance."

The resistance of conducting material is determined to be— directly proportional to the material's length and inversely proportional to the material's cross-sectional area, depending on the material's nature and temperature.

Mathematically, the resistance of conducting material is given by;

$R = ρ \frac{L}{A}$

where:

$R$ is the resistance,
$ρ$ (rho) is the resistivity of the material, which depends on the material's nature and temperature,
$L$ is the length of the material,
$A$ is the cross-sectional area of the material.

When a potential difference is introduced to a conductor, current begins to flow or free electrons begin to move. The unbound electrons collide with the conductor's atoms and molecules as they move.

The passage of electrons or electric current is slowed due to collisions or obstructions. As a result, we can conclude that there is some resistance to electron or current flow. Thus, resistance refers to a substance's opposition to the flow of electric current. The greater the resistance, the greater the obstacle to current flow.

Unit of Electrical Resistance

The electrical resistance is measured in ohms $(Ω)$ , The ohm unit is named after Georg Simon Ohm, a great German physicist and mathematician.

Also, check-

NEET Highest Scoring Chapters & Topics

This ebook serves as a valuable study guide for NEET exams, specifically designed to assist students in light of recent changes and the removal of certain topics from the NEET exam.

Download E-book

Difference Between Resistance and Resistivity

Understanding the differences between resistance and resistivity is an essential component of physics education. Furthermore, the movement of free electrons is a significant distinction between resistance and resistivity. In addition, resistance is a property that prevents free electrons from flowing freely. Resistivity, on the other hand, is a property of any substance that describes its resistance in a specific dimension. Knowing the concept or Difference between Resistance and resistivity will help you deal with more complicated electrical topics.

Resistance	Resistivity
The physical property of a substance that opposes the flow of current, i.e. electrons, is called resistance.	Resistivity is a physical property of a certain substance that has specific dimensions.
Resistance is related to both length and temperature but is inversely proportional to the material's cross-sectional area.	The nature and temperature of a material's resistivity are only proportionate to one another.
Temperature, Length, and Conductor Cross-Sectional Area Effect resistance	Temperature effect Resistivity
$\begin{aligned} R = ρ (L / A) \\ ρ = Resistivity \end{aligned}$	$ρ = (R \times A) / L$ Here: R = Resistance; L= Length; $A =$ Cross-sectional area
Ohms is the SI unit of resistance.	The ohms-meter is the SI unit for resistivity.
The resistance property is applied in a variety of applications, including heaters, fuses, and sensors.	For calcareous soil, electrical resistivity measurement is used as a quality control test.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What does "resistance" mean?

Resistance is a measure of resistance to current passage in an electrical circuit. Furthermore, resistance occurs because the journey from one terminal to the next is not direct. Instead, an electron travels in a zigzag pattern. As a result, the electrons' mobility is hampered.

2. What is resistivity class 10 or What is resistivity definition class 10 and how does it work?

Resistivity is a basic measurement of an object's resistance to the conduction of electricity in a certain dimension. Additionally, items with lower resistivities will have less resistance to electric flow. High resistivity objects, on the other hand, are poor conductors.

3. Is resistivity significant in deciding resistance?

The resistivity of a material, as well as its size and shape, influence its resistance.

4. Is the resistance proportional to the resistivity?

Yes, when the resistivity of a thing increases, so does the resistance. The flow of charges in a conductor is opposed by resistance. Resistance is proportional to the conductor's length and area. The resistance is measured in ohms.

5. What influences the resistance and resistivity of a material?

Temperature, wire length, cross-sectional area, and material nature are all factors that affect resistance. Free electrons move across conductive materials and occasionally clash with atoms when current flows through them. Temperature affects Resistivity.

6. What is the fundamental difference between resistance and resistivity?

Resistance is a property of a specific object or conductor, while resistivity is a property of the material itself. Resistance depends on the object's dimensions and shape, whereas resistivity is an intrinsic property that remains constant for a given material regardless of its size or shape.

7. How does the cross-sectional area of a wire affect its resistance and resistivity?

The cross-sectional area of a wire affects its resistance but not its resistivity. As the cross-sectional area increases, the resistance decreases, but the resistivity remains constant because it is a property of the material, not the wire's dimensions.

8. Why do we need both resistance and resistivity in electrical calculations?

We need both concepts because resistance helps us understand the behavior of specific electrical components, while resistivity allows us to compare different materials' inherent ability to resist current flow. This distinction is crucial for designing and selecting materials for various electrical applications.

9. Can a long wire and a short wire made of the same material have the same resistance?

Yes, it's possible. While a longer wire typically has higher resistance, if the short wire has a smaller cross-sectional area, it could have the same resistance as the longer wire with a larger cross-sectional area. This is because resistance depends on both length and cross-sectional area.

10. How does temperature affect resistance and resistivity?

Temperature generally affects both resistance and resistivity similarly. For most materials, as temperature increases, both resistance and resistivity increase. This is due to increased atomic vibrations at higher temperatures, which impede electron flow.

11. What units are used to measure resistance and resistivity?

Resistance is measured in ohms (Ω), while resistivity is measured in ohm-meters (Ω⋅m). The different units reflect that resistance is a property of a specific object, while resistivity is a material property independent of size or shape.

12. How can you calculate resistance if you know the resistivity of a material?

To calculate resistance from resistivity, use the formula: R = ρL/A, where R is resistance, ρ (rho) is resistivity, L is the length of the conductor, and A is its cross-sectional area. This formula shows how resistance depends on both material properties and object dimensions.

13. Can the resistance of a wire be zero? What about its resistivity?

In practice, the resistance of a normal wire cannot be zero, as all conventional materials have some resistance. However, in superconductors below their critical temperature, resistance can effectively become zero. Resistivity can approach zero in superconductors, but it's never truly zero in normal materials.

14. Can the resistance of a material change without changing its resistivity?

Yes, the resistance of a material can change without altering its resistivity. This can happen by changing the physical dimensions of the object (length or cross-sectional area) or by connecting multiple resistors in series or parallel, which affects the overall resistance but not the intrinsic resistivity of the material.

15. What is the significance of the temperature coefficient of resistivity?

The temperature coefficient of resistivity describes how a material's resistivity changes with temperature. It's crucial for designing electrical systems that operate across various temperatures, helping engineers predict and compensate for resistance changes in different environmental conditions.

16. Why do different materials have different resistivities?

Different materials have different resistivities due to their atomic and electronic structures. Factors such as the number of free electrons, atomic arrangement, and impurities affect how easily electrons can move through the material, determining its resistivity.

17. Can resistivity be negative?

In conventional materials, resistivity is always positive. However, in some exotic materials or under specific conditions (like in superconductors below their critical temperature), the concept of negative resistivity can arise, though it's not typically encountered in everyday electrical systems.

18. How does the concept of resistivity help in choosing materials for electrical wiring?

Resistivity helps in selecting appropriate materials for electrical wiring by providing a standardized way to compare different materials' ability to conduct electricity, regardless of their shape or size. Materials with lower resistivity, like copper, are often chosen for wiring to minimize power loss.

19. How does doping affect the resistivity of semiconductors?

Doping, the process of adding impurities to semiconductors, significantly decreases their resistivity. By introducing either extra electrons (n-type doping) or extra holes (p-type doping), the number of charge carriers increases, allowing for better current flow and lower resistivity.

20. How does the concept of resistivity apply to 2D materials like graphene?

For 2D materials like graphene, the concept of resistivity is modified to "sheet resistivity," measured in ohms per square (Ω/□). This accounts for the unique properties of 2D materials where thickness is negligible, and resistance is determined by length-to-width ratio rather than volume.

21. What is the Kondo effect, and how does it influence resistivity at low temperatures?

The Kondo effect is a phenomenon observed in metals with magnetic impurities. At low temperatures, instead of continually decreasing, the resistivity reaches a minimum and then increases again. This is due to the interaction between conduction electrons and localized magnetic moments, which enhances electron scattering at very low temperatures.

22. What's the relationship between conductivity and resistivity?

Conductivity is the inverse of resistivity. Materials with high resistivity have low conductivity, and vice versa. This relationship is expressed mathematically as σ = 1/ρ, where σ (sigma) is conductivity and ρ (rho) is resistivity.

23. Why is copper commonly used for electrical wiring instead of other metals?

Copper is widely used for electrical wiring because it has a low resistivity, making it an excellent conductor. It also has good ductility, is relatively inexpensive compared to other low-resistivity metals like silver, and has a high melting point, making it suitable for various electrical applications.

24. How does the resistivity of a material relate to its band structure in solid-state physics?

The resistivity of a material is closely related to its electronic band structure. Materials with a small or no band gap (like metals) have low resistivity because electrons can easily move to the conduction band. Materials with larger band gaps (like insulators) have higher resistivity as electrons struggle to reach the conduction band.

25. How does the concept of mean free path relate to resistivity?

The mean free path, which is the average distance an electron travels between collisions, is inversely related to resistivity. Materials with a longer mean free path for electrons tend to have lower resistivity because electrons can travel further without scattering, allowing for better current flow.

26. Why does the resistivity of most metals increase with temperature?

The resistivity of most metals increases with temperature because higher temperatures cause increased atomic vibrations (phonons). These vibrations interfere with the motion of free electrons, increasing the likelihood of collisions and thus increasing resistivity.

27. How does the resistivity of an alloy compare to that of its constituent pure metals?

The resistivity of an alloy is typically higher than that of its constituent pure metals. This is because the irregular atomic structure in alloys creates more obstacles for electron flow, increasing scattering and thus resistivity. This property is used in making resistance wires for heating elements.

28. How does quantum mechanics explain the concept of resistivity?

Quantum mechanics explains resistivity through the concept of electron scattering. In the quantum view, electrons behave as waves that scatter off imperfections in the crystal lattice, phonons (lattice vibrations), and other electrons. The degree of this scattering determines the material's resistivity.

29. Why do some materials, like superconductors, show zero resistivity under certain conditions?

Superconductors exhibit zero resistivity below a critical temperature due to the formation of Cooper pairs. These paired electrons move through the material without scattering, resulting in zero electrical resistance. This quantum phenomenon allows for lossless current flow.

30. How does the resistivity of a semiconductor change with light exposure?

The resistivity of a semiconductor typically decreases when exposed to light. This occurs because light energy can excite electrons from the valence band to the conduction band, creating more charge carriers. This principle is the basis for photoelectric devices like solar cells and photoresistors.

31. What is the relationship between resistivity and the drift velocity of electrons?

Resistivity is inversely related to the drift velocity of electrons. In materials with higher resistivity, electrons encounter more obstacles and scatter more frequently, resulting in a lower average drift velocity. Conversely, in materials with lower resistivity, electrons can move more freely, achieving higher drift velocities.

32. How does the concept of resistivity apply to electrolytes and ionic solutions?

In electrolytes and ionic solutions, resistivity is determined by the concentration and mobility of ions rather than electrons. The concept still applies, but the charge carriers are ions, and factors like ion size, charge, and solution concentration affect the resistivity.

33. Why does the resistivity of semiconductors decrease with increasing temperature, unlike metals?

Unlike metals, the resistivity of semiconductors typically decreases with increasing temperature. This occurs because higher temperatures provide more energy for electrons to jump from the valence band to the conduction band, creating more charge carriers and thus lowering resistivity.

34. How does the Hall effect relate to resistivity measurements?

The Hall effect, which occurs when a magnetic field is applied perpendicular to current flow, can be used to determine charge carrier density and mobility in a material. These properties are directly related to resistivity, making the Hall effect a valuable tool for understanding and measuring resistivity in materials.

35. What is the difference between DC resistance and AC impedance, and how does this relate to resistivity?

DC resistance is determined solely by a material's resistivity and geometry. AC impedance, however, includes additional factors like inductance and capacitance, which affect the opposition to current flow in AC circuits. While resistivity contributes to both, impedance is a more complex concept that depends on frequency.

36. How does the concept of resistivity apply to non-ohmic materials?

In non-ohmic materials, resistivity is not constant and changes with applied voltage or current. This means that Ohm's law doesn't apply directly, and the relationship between current and voltage is non-linear. The concept of differential resistivity is often used to describe the instantaneous resistance at a specific operating point.

37. What is the skin effect, and how does it relate to resistance and resistivity at high frequencies?

The skin effect is the tendency of alternating current to flow near the surface of a conductor at high frequencies. This effectively reduces the cross-sectional area available for current flow, increasing the apparent resistance of the conductor. While the material's intrinsic resistivity doesn't change, the effective resistance increases due to this phenomenon.

38. How does quantum tunneling affect the resistivity of very thin insulating layers?

Quantum tunneling can significantly reduce the effective resistivity of very thin insulating layers. In these nanoscale structures, electrons can "tunnel" through the insulating barrier, a phenomenon not predicted by classical physics. This effect is crucial in the operation of certain electronic devices like tunnel diodes and scanning tunneling microscopes.

39. What is the Wiedemann-Franz law, and how does it relate resistance and thermal conductivity?

The Wiedemann-Franz law states that the ratio of thermal conductivity to electrical conductivity in metals is proportional to temperature. This law highlights the connection between electrical resistivity and thermal properties, as both are related to electron movement within the material.

40. How does the resistivity of a material change near its melting point?

Near the melting point, the resistivity of a material often increases rapidly. This is due to the breakdown of the ordered crystal structure, which significantly increases electron scattering. In some materials, there can be a discontinuous jump in resistivity at the melting point itself.

41. How does strain or mechanical stress affect the resistivity of materials?

Strain or mechanical stress can change a material's resistivity by altering its atomic structure. This effect, known as piezoresistivity, is more pronounced in some materials than others. In semiconductors, strain can change the band structure, affecting charge carrier mobility and thus resistivity.

42. What is the relationship between resistivity and the mean free time between electron collisions?

Resistivity is inversely proportional to the mean free time between electron collisions. A longer mean free time indicates fewer collisions, allowing electrons to move more freely, resulting in lower resistivity. This relationship is crucial in understanding the microscopic origins of electrical resistance.

43. How does the concept of resistivity apply to 2D electron gases in semiconductor heterostructures?

In 2D electron gases, found in certain semiconductor heterostructures, electrons are confined to a plane, altering their behavior compared to bulk materials. The concept of resistivity still applies, but it's often described in terms of sheet resistance. The unique quantum effects in these systems can lead to phenomena like the quantum Hall effect, which has implications for resistivity measurements.

44. What is the Mott transition, and how does it affect resistivity?

The Mott transition is a phenomenon where a material switches between insulating and conducting states. This can occur due to changes in pressure, temperature, or chemical composition. During this transition, the material's resistivity can change dramatically, sometimes by several orders of magnitude, highlighting the complex interplay between electron interactions and material properties.

45. How does the presence of grain boundaries in polycrystalline materials affect their resistivity?

Grain boundaries in polycrystalline materials increase overall resistivity. These boundaries act as obstacles to electron flow, causing additional scattering. The effect is more pronounced in materials with smaller grain sizes, as there are more boundaries per unit volume. This is why single-crystal materials often have lower resistivity than their polycrystalline counterparts.

46. What is the Matthiessen's rule, and how is it used in understanding resistivity?

Matthiessen's rule states that the total resistivity of a metal is the sum of resistivities due to different scattering mechanisms (e.g., impurities, phonons). This rule helps in analyzing and predicting the resistivity of materials under various conditions, though it's an approximation and doesn't always hold perfectly, especially at very low temperatures or in very pure materials.

47. How does the concept of resistivity apply to superlattices and other engineered nanoscale structures?

In superlattices and nanoscale structures, the classical concept of resistivity must be modified. These structures often exhibit quantum confinement effects, altering electron behavior. Resistivity in such cases may depend on direction (anisotropic) and can show quantum interference effects. The concept of "effective resistivity" is often used, which takes into account these nanoscale phenomena.

48. What is the relationship between resistivity and the Fermi surface of a material?

The Fermi surface, which represents the surface of constant energy in k-space for electrons at the Fermi level, is closely related to a material's resistivity. Materials with larger Fermi surfaces generally have lower resistivity because they have more states available for electron conduction. The shape and features of the Fermi surface also influence scattering processes, further affecting resistivity.

49. How does the resistivity of composite materials compare to that of their individual components?

The resistivity of composite materials can be complex and doesn't always follow simple mixing rules. It depends on the volume fraction, distribution, and connectivity of the components. In some cases, like in conductive polymer composites, a small amount of conductive filler can dramatically decrease the overall resistivity, a phenomenon known as percolation.

50. What is the Anderson localization, and how does it affect resistivity in disordered systems?

Anderson localization is a phenomenon where electron wave functions become localized in disordered systems, such as amorphous materials or heavily doped semiconductors. This localization can lead to a transition from conducting to insulating behavior, dramatically increasing resistivity. It's a quantum effect that highlights how disorder can fundamentally alter a material's electrical properties.

51. How does the resistivity of magnetic materials change near their Curie temperature?

Near the Curie temperature, where a ferromagnetic material transitions to a paramagnetic state, there's often a notable change in resistivity. This is due to the reorganization of magnetic domains and changes in electron scattering from magnetic moments. The exact behavior can vary, but many materials show a peak or anomaly in resistivity near this transition point.

52. What is the role of phonon-drag effect in the resistivity of materials at low temperatures?

The phonon-drag effect occurs when phonons (lattice vibrations) interact with electrons, "dragging" them along and affecting their motion. At low temperatures, where electron-phonon scattering dominates, this effect can significantly contribute to a material's resistivity. It's particularly important in understanding the thermoelectric properties of materials.

53. How does the concept of resistivity apply to topological insulators?

Topological insulators are materials that are insulators in their bulk but conduct electricity on their surface due to protected edge or surface states. The bulk resistivity of these materials is high, like typical insulators. However, the surface states exhibit very low resistivity and often show unique properties like being immune to backscattering, challenging traditional concepts of resistivity.