Home  >  News & Articles  >  Unit of Specific Resistance

Kasturi Talukdar

Updated on 02nd May, 2023 , 3 min read

Unit of Specific Resistance

Unit of Specific Resistance Overview

The unit of specific resistance, also known as resistivity, is an essential concept in electrical engineering and physics. It refers to the inherent resistance of a material to the flow of electric current. This article will provide a detailed overview of the unit of specific resistance, including its definition, formula, units, and examples.

Unit of Specific Resistance: Definition 

Specific resistance, denoted by the Greek letter ρ (rho), is a measure of the resistance of a material to the flow of electric current. It is defined as the resistance of a wire with a unit length and a unit cross-sectional area. In other words, specific resistance is the resistance per unit length and unit cross-sectional area of a material.

The specific resistance of a material is dependent on several factors, including the material's composition, temperature, and impurities. The resistivity of a material is usually expressed in units of ohm-meters (Ωm).

Unit of Specific Resistance: Formula

The formula for specific resistance is given as:

ρ = RA/L

Where:

ρ: Specific resistance (Ωm)

R: Resistance of the wire (Ω)

A: Cross-sectional area of the wire (m²)

L: Length of the wire (m)

From the formula, we can see that specific resistance is directly proportional to the resistance of the wire and the length of the wire. It is inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area of the wire.

Unit of Specific Resistance

From the specific Resistance Formula:

Unit of ρ=Unit of R×Unit of A / Unit of L

  1. Resistivity is obtained by expressing resistance R in Ohms (Ω) and distances in centimeters (cm).
  2. The SI unit of resistivity is Ohm cm (Ω .cm) when expressed in centimeters.
  3. If distances are expressed in meters (m), the SI unit of specific resistance becomes Ohm meter (Ωm).
  4. Conductivity is expressed in siemens.m-1 (S.m-1) or Ohm-1m-1.
  5. Metals have low specific resistance (∼10−8Ω.m) since they are good conductors, while insulators have high resistance (∼1016Ω.m) since they are poor conductors of electricity.

Related Articles: 


Read More About: SI Unit of Resistance

Electrical Resistivity

Electric resistivity, which is also referred to as specific electrical resistance, is a characteristic of a material that indicates its ability to impede the flow of electric current. The symbol used to represent it is ρ, and its unit of measurement is ohm-meter in the International System of Units (SI).

Airway Resistance

The resistance encountered by air flowing through the respiratory tract during inhalation and exhalation is known as "airway resistance." This can be expressed using a formula analogous to Ohm's law:

RAW = ΔP/V 

Where, 

  • ΔP= PATM-PA
  • RAW = (PATM-PA)/V
  • where RAW: airway resistance
  • ΔP: pressure difference driving airflow
  • PATM: atmospheric pressure
  • PA: alveolar pressure
  • V: volumetric airflow

Also Read About: Ohm's Law & Limitation of Ohm's Law

Unit of Specific Resistance of Copper 

Copper has a specific resistance of 1.68 x 10-8Ω.m (20oC). This means that at a temperature of 20oC, the resistance between two opposite surfaces of a copper cube of side 1 m is 1.68 x 10-8 Ω.

  • Copper has a conductivity of 5.96 x 107 Sm-1.
  • Owing to its high conductivity and low resistivity, the resistance of copper to the flow of current is negligible.
  • Copper wires are usually used to conduct electricity in electrical circuits.

Unit of Specific Resistance: Conversion Factor

The table below shows the conversion factors between different units of specific resistance.

Unit

Conversion Factor

1 Ωm

100 Ωcm

1 Ωm

39.37 Ωin

1 Ωcm

0.01 Ωm

1 Ωcm

0.3937 Ωin

1 Ωin

0.0254 Ωm

1 Ωin

2.54 Ωcm

Read More About: Dimension of Resistance

Unit of Specific Resistance of Other Materials 

The specific resistance of various other materials are as follows –  

Material

Resistivity in Ohm meter (Ωm)

Silver

1.59 x 10-8

Copper

1.68 x 10-8

Iron

9.70 x 10-8

Gold

2.44 x 10-8

Platinum

1.06 x 10-7

Zinc

5.90 x 10-8

Tin

1.09 x 10-8

Unit of Specific Resistance: Things to Remember

  1. Resistivity refers to the amount of resistance a material offers per unit length and per unit cross-sectional area.
  2. The mathematical expression of resistance is given by ρ = RA/L.
  3. The SI unit of specific resistance is ohm-meter (Ωm).
  4. Superconductors exhibit zero resistivity in their superconducting state, which occurs at extremely low temperatures.
  5. Airway resistance is the resistance of the respiratory tract to the flow of air during inhalation and exhalation.
  6. Copper has a specific resistance of 1.68 x 10-8 Ω.m.
  7. Electrical resistivity is a measure of how effectively a material can impede the flow of electric current.

Was this Article Helpful/Relevant or did you get what you were looking for ?

👎234

Similar Articles

JoSAA Counselling 2024

By - Avantika Bhardwaj 2024-02-05 11:56:38 , 18 min read
Read More

Frequently Asked Questions

What is specific resistance, and how is it measured?

Specific resistance, also known as electrical resistivity, is the measure of a material’s ability to resist the flow of electric current. It is measured in units of ohm-meter (Ωm). Specific resistance is measured by applying a voltage across the material and measuring the resulting current. The resistance can then be calculated using Ohm’s law.

What is the formula for specific resistance?

The formula for specific resistance is ρ = RA/L, where ρ is the specific resistance, R is the resistance of the material, A is the cross-sectional area of the material, and L is the length of the material.

What is the difference between specific resistance and resistance?

Resistance is the measure of how much a material resists the flow of electric current, while specific resistance is the measure of a material’s ability to resist the flow of electric current per unit length and per unit cross-sectional area.

What is the SI unit of specific resistance?

The SI unit of specific resistance is ohm-meter (Ωm).

What is the unit of conductivity, and how is it related to specific resistance?

The unit of conductivity is siemens per meter (S/m), and it is the reciprocal of specific resistance. Conductivity and specific resistance are related by the equation σ = 1/ρ, where σ is the conductivity.

What is the specific resistance of copper, and why is it important?

The specific resistance of copper is 1.68 x 10-8 Ω.m at 20°C. Copper is a highly conductive material, which means it has a low specific resistance. This property makes it an ideal material for use in electrical wiring and circuits.

What is the difference between specific resistance and resistivity?

Specific resistance and resistivity are the same thing. The term "specific resistance" is more commonly used in the electrical engineering field, while "resistivity" is more commonly used in the physics and materials science fields.

What is the specific resistance of air, and why is it important?

The specific resistance of air is extremely high, approximately 1.3 x 1016 Ω.m. This high resistance makes air an excellent insulator, which is why it is used in electrical applications to prevent electrical current from flowing.

What is the specific resistance of a superconductor, and why is it important?

The specific resistance of a superconductor is zero at temperatures below a critical temperature. This property makes superconductors highly desirable for use in electrical applications because they can conduct electricity with zero resistance, resulting in highly efficient and cost-effective electrical systems.

What is the relationship between specific resistance and temperature?

In general, the specific resistance of a material increases as its temperature increases. This relationship is known as the temperature coefficient of resistance and is an important consideration in the design and operation of electrical systems.

Similar College

Course Offered

MBA

Fees for 2 years

₹ 909000

Avg. Package

₹ 8.7 LPA

Highest Package

₹ 12 LPA

Course Offered

MBA

Fees for 2 years

₹ 909000

Avg. Package

₹ 6.0 LPA

Highest Package

₹ 7.70 LPA

Check Eligibility   Free 1:1 Counselling