Resistance is a measure of the opposition to current flow in an electrical circuit. It is a force that counteracts the flow of electricity and influences the flow of electricity. The greater the resistance, the lower the current, and the lower the resistance, the greater the current. Resistance is measured in ohms, symbolized by the Greek letter omega (Ω) .
All materials resist current flow to some degree, but they fall into one of two broad categories: conductors and insulators. Conductors are materials that offer very little resistance where electrons can move easily, such as silver, copper, gold, and aluminum. On the other hand, insulators are materials that offer high resistance to the flow of electric current, such as rubber, glass, and air.
Resistors are electronic components that resist the flow of electricity in a circuit. They are used in electric circuits to adjust current and voltage. Many components, such as heating elements and resistors, have a fixed-resistance value. The standard metric unit for resistance is the ohm, represented by the Greek letter omega (Ω) .
Factors that affect electrical resistance include the cross-sectional area of the conductor, the length of the conductor, and the material of the conductor. Resistance is also useful because it gives us a way to shield ourselves from the harmful energy of electricity.
