Define the term resistivity?

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Detailed Solution

Resistivity is a material’s property that measures how strongly it opposes the flow of electric current.

Resistivity (symbol ρ) is defined as the electrical resistance of a conductor of unit length and unit cross-sectional area. It tells us how much the material resists the flow of electric charge.

Symbol: ρ (Greek rho).
Unit (SI): ohm-metre (Ω·m).
Formula relation: If a piece of material has length L and cross sectional area A, and has resistance R, then
ρ = R · A / L.

The resistivity concept allows comparison between materials independent of their shape or size. For example, a high resistivity means the material is a poor conductor (it resists current strongly).

Why it matters:

In electrical engineering, when selecting wires or components, lower resistivity materials (e.g., copper) are preferred for conduction.
In materials science, resistivity helps classify conductors vs insulators vs semiconductors.
Temperature, impurities, and structure affect resistivity. As temperature increases in many metals, resistivity increases.