Resistivity: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:Done 2018-05-18]]  
<onlyinclude>'''Resistivity''' is a property of materials that determines how well that material will conduct [[electricity]]. This property is closely related to [[resistance]] which is the property of a particular electrical component.</onlyinclude> Resistivity is also closely related to [[electrical conductivity]]:
[[category:Phets]]
<onlyinclude>'''Resistivity''' is a property of materials that determines how well that material will conduct [[electricity]]. This property is closely related to [[resistance]] which is the property of a particular electrical component.</onlyinclude> Resistivity is also closely related to [[electrical conductivity]]:<ref name=Knight>R. D. Knight, "Conductivity and resistivity" in ''Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach,'' 2nd ed. San Francisco, U.S.A.: Pearson Addison-Wesley, 2008, pp. 954-956</ref>


<m>\rho = \frac{1}{\sigma}</m>
<math>\rho = \frac{1}{\sigma}</math>


Where <m>\rho</m> is the resistivity (in [[Ohm]]/[[meter|m]]) and <m>{\sigma}</m> is the conductivity (in [[meter|m]]/[[Ohm]])). To determine the resistance of a [[wire]] (which could be made of almost anything: [[copper]], [[aluminum]], this equation even works for wood!)
Where <math>\rho</math> is the resistivity (in [[Ohm]]/[[meter|m]]) and <math>{\sigma}</math> is the conductivity (in [[meter|m]]/[[Ohm]])). To determine the resistance of a [[wire]] (which could be made of almost anything: [[copper]], [[aluminum]], this equation even works for wood!)


<m>R = \rho \frac{A}{l}= \frac{A}{\sigma l}</m>
<math>R = \rho \frac{A}{l}= \frac{A}{\sigma l}</math>


where <m>A</m> is the area (in m<sup>2</sup>) and <m>l</m> is the length (in [[meter|m]]).
where <math>A</math> is the area (in m<sup>2</sup>) and <math>l</math> is the length (in [[meter|m]]).


For more detailed information on resistivity please see [http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/resis.html#c2hyperphysics hyperphysics]. Hyperphysics also has a [http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/tables/rstiv.html table of resistivities] for different materials. Resistivity also depends on [[temperature]], which is also explained on [http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/restmp.html hyperphysics].
For more detailed information on resistivity please see [http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/resis.html#c2hyperphysics hyperphysics]. Hyperphysics also has a [http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/tables/rstiv.html table of resistivities] for different materials. Resistivity also depends on [[temperature]], which is also explained on [http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/restmp.html hyperphysics].

Revision as of 21:41, 18 May 2018

Resistivity is a property of materials that determines how well that material will conduct electricity. This property is closely related to resistance which is the property of a particular electrical component. Resistivity is also closely related to electrical conductivity:[1]

[math]\rho = \frac{1}{\sigma}[/math]

Where [math]\rho[/math] is the resistivity (in Ohm/m) and [math]{\sigma}[/math] is the conductivity (in m/Ohm)). To determine the resistance of a wire (which could be made of almost anything: copper, aluminum, this equation even works for wood!)

[math]R = \rho \frac{A}{l}= \frac{A}{\sigma l}[/math]

where [math]A[/math] is the area (in m2) and [math]l[/math] is the length (in m).

For more detailed information on resistivity please see hyperphysics. Hyperphysics also has a table of resistivities for different materials. Resistivity also depends on temperature, which is also explained on hyperphysics.

PhET: Resistance in a wire

The University of Colorado has graciously allowed us to use the following Phet simulation. Explore the simulation to see how resistance changes depending on geometry and resistivity:

  1. R. D. Knight, "Conductivity and resistivity" in Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach, 2nd ed. San Francisco, U.S.A.: Pearson Addison-Wesley, 2008, pp. 954-956