Resistance is the opposition that a substance offers to the flow of electric current. It is represented by the uppercase letter R.

The standard unit of

resistance is the ohm, sometimes written out as a word, and sometimes symbolized by the uppercase Greek letter omega:

When an electric current of one ampere passes through a component across which a potential difference (voltage) of one volt exists, then the
resistance of that component is one ohm. (For more discussion of the relationship among current, resistance and voltage, see Ohm's law.)

In general, when the applied voltage is held constant, the current in a direct-current (DC) electrical circuit is inversely proportional to the resistance.
If the resistance is doubled, the current is cut in half; if the resistance is halved, the current is doubled. This rule also holds true for most lowfrequency alternating-current (AC) systems, such as household utility circuits. In some AC circuits, especially at high frequencies, the situation is
more complex because some components in these systems can store and release energy, as well as dissipating or converting it.

The electrical resistance per unit length, area, or volume of a substance is known as resistivity. Resistivity figures are often specified for copper and
aluminum wire, in ohms per kilometer.

Opposition to AC, but not to DC, is a property known as reactance. In an AC circuit, the resistance and reactance combine vectorially to
yield impedance.

Resistance contrasts with conductance, which is a measure of the ease with which electrical current flows through a substance.

Ohm's Law

Journey of a Typical Electron

Resistance
Ohm's Law
Power Revisited

There are certain formulas in Physics that are so powerful and so pervasive that they reach the state of popular knowledge. A student of Physics has
written such formulas down so many times that they have memorized it without trying to. Certainly to the professionals in the field, such formulas
are so central that they become engraved in their minds. In the field of Modern Physics, there is E = m c 2. In the field of Newtonian Mechanics,
there is Fnet = m a. In the field of Wave Mechanics, there is v = f . And in the field of current electricity, there is V = I R.

The predominant equation which pervades the study of electric circuits is the equation

V = I R

In words, the electric potential difference between two points on a circuit (V) is equivalent to the product of the current between those two points
(I) and the total resistance of all electrical devices present between those two points (R). Through the rest of this unit of The Physics Classroom, this
equation will become the most common equation which we see. Often referred to as the Ohm's lawequation, this equation is a powerful predictor of
the relationship between potential difference, current and resistance.