Question
Define the term electrical resistivity of a material. How is it related to its electrical conductivity? Of the factors, length area of cross-section, nature of material and temperature, which one controls the resistivity value of a conductor?
Solution
Resistivity is defined as the measure of resistance to electrical conduction for a given size of material.
For a particular material at specified temperature, resistivity is the electrical resistance per unit length and per unit of cross sectional area.
Resistivity is the inverse of conductivity.
The resistivity of a material depends upon the material and temperature of the material and is independent of the length and area of cross-section.
