What are resistance?

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: 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 low-
frequency 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.

How do they work?

People who make electric or electronic circuits to do particular jobs often need to introduce precise
amounts of resistance. They can do that by adding tiny components called resistors. A resistor is a
little package of resistance: wire it into a circuit and you reduce the current by a precise amount.
From the outside, all resistors look more or less the same. As you can see in the top photo on this
page, a resistor is a short, worm-like component with colored stripes on the side. It has two
connections, one on either side, so you can hook it into a circuit.

What's going on inside a resistor? If you break one open, and scratch off the outer coating of
insulating paint, you might see an insulating ceramic rod running through the middle with copper
wire wrapped around the outside. A resistor like this is described as wire-wound. The number of
copper turns controls the resistance very precisely: the more copper turns, and the thinner the
copper, the higher the resistance. In smaller-value resistors, designed for lower-power circuits, the
copper winding is replaced by a spiral pattern of carbon. Resistors like this are much cheaper to
make and are called carbon-film. Generally, wire-wound resistors are more precise and more stable
at higher operating temperatures.
Table of Color resistor
What is multimeter?
A multimeter measures electrical properties such as AC or DC voltage, current, and resistance.
Rather than have separate meters, this device combines a voltmeter, an ammeter, and an
ohmmeter. Electricians and the general public might use it on batteries, components, switches,
power sources, and motors to diagnose electrical malfunctions and narrow down their cause.

The two main kinds of a multimeter are analog and digital. A digital device has an LCD screen that
gives a straight forward decimal read out, while an analog display moves a bar through a scale of
numbers and must be interpreted. Either type will work over a specific range for each measurement,
and users should select one that's compatible with what he or she meters most, from low-voltage
power sources to high-voltage car batteries. Multimeters are specified with a sensitivity range, so
consumers should make sure they get the appropriate one.

As a voltmeter, the tool can measure the amount of AC or DC voltage flowing through a circuit.
Voltage is a difference in potential energy between the two points. A fan, for example, should be
drawing 120 volts (in the U.S.) from the plug in the wall, but a computer scanner might only draw
12 volts from a converter. To test these components, the user should choose AC or DC, select an
upper limit on the voltage, and plug the machine in question right into the multimeter, without
breaking the circuit. The readout should reveal whether the device is functioning normally, when
compared to the data specified in the user's manual.

As an ohmmeter, it finds the resistance in a circuit, which is given in ohms. A user can find the
resistance at any point in a circuit by first unplugging the machine from a wall outlet or battery
source then putting in an approximate range he or she expects to contain the number of ohms. The
measuring tool actually passes a small amount of electricity from its own battery through the circuit
to measure resistance by comparing the voltage sent out to what it receives.

When used as an ammeter, the multimeter measures current flowing through a closed circuit by
interrupting that circuit. The tool can only be connected in series, which means that all the circuit's
current will flow through the ammeter's sensors. The user will still need to select the range in which
he or she expects the current to fall. This feature is used less often than the others, so some
multimeters do not measure current at all.