Electrical resistance and conductance

Article By:

Frenzel, Louis Retired, Department of Engineering Technology, Austin Community College, Austin, Texas.

Berry, Carlotta Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, Indiana.

Last reviewed:April 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.219300

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• Conductance, published January 2020:Download PDF Get Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Electrical resistance, published January 2014:Download PDF Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

The ability of a material to resist or allow the flow of electrical current. Material properties largely determine the resistance and conductance—quantified by electrical resistivity and conductivity—of a given object, such as a circuit or component. Electrical insulators—including materials such as plastic, rubber, dry air, and wax—have high resistance and thus low conductivity. Electrical conductors, including materials such as metals and seawater, oppositely have high conductivity and low resistance. The size and shape of an object also influences resistance and conductance; longer, thinner wires, for instance, do not conduct electricity as well as shorter, thicker wires (Fig. 1). See also: Conduction (electricity); Electric current; Electric insulator; Electrical insulation; Electrical resistivity and conductivity; Electricity; Electron; Metal; Rubber; Wire

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