Definition

1. Noun:
   • A material's opposition to the flow of electric current: Resistivity is an intrinsic property of a material that quantifies how strongly it resists electric current. It is measured in ohm-meters (Ω·m).
   • Electrical resistance per unit length and cross-sectional area: Resistivity is the electrical resistance of a conductor of unit cross-sectional area and unit length.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Copper has a low resistivity, which makes it an excellent conductor for electrical wiring.
  • The resistivity of the insulator was so high that it effectively blocked all current flow.
  • Engineers measure the resistivity of a material to determine its suitability for electronic components.

Advanced Usage

• "Temperature dependence of resistivity": The way a material's resistivity changes with temperature is a critical property. For most metals, resistivity increases with temperature.

  • The temperature dependence of resistivity must be accounted for in precision instruments.

• "Volume resistivity": A specific term for resistivity measured through a material's bulk, as opposed to its surface.

  • The test specification required data on the plastic's volume resistivity.

Variants and Related Words

• Resist (verb): To withstand or oppose something.
  • The material must resist corrosion.
• Resistance (noun): The act of resisting or the property that impedes current flow in a specific object (measured in ohms, Ω).
  • The total resistance of the circuit was calculated.
• Resistive (adjective): Having the nature of or pertaining to resistance.
  • The component exhibited resistive behavior.

Synonyms

• Specific electrical resistance: A more formal, technical synonym for resistivity.
• Volume resistance: Often used interchangeably in certain contexts, though it can imply a measurement on a specific sample.

Related Phrases

• Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT): A geophysical technique for imaging subsurface structures by measuring resistivity.
  • ERT is commonly used in environmental and engineering surveys.
• Sheet resistance: A measure of resistance for thin films that is related to but distinct from bulk resistivity.
  • The sheet resistance of the conductive layer was within the required range.

Related Idioms

(This term is highly technical and does not commonly feature in idiomatic expressions. Its usage is primarily scientific and engineering-related.)

Noun

1. a material's opposition to the flow of electric current; measured in ohms