Conductors, Resistors, and

Insulators
Conductors, Resistors, and Insulators
Resistance
Resistivity and Conductivity
Effect of Temperature
Insulators and Conductors
Resistance
Opposition of the passage of electric current through a conductor
based on its physical characteristics.

𝑙
𝑅=ρ
𝐴
Where:
𝑅 Resistance Ohms
ρ Resistivity of the conductor Ohm-meter
𝑙 Length of the conductor Meters
𝐴 Cross-sectional area of the conductor Square meters
Resistivity and Conductivity
Resistivity
The inherent ability of the material to limit the flow of electrons.
A measure of the resisting power of a specified material to the flow of an
electric current.

Conductivity
A degree to which a specified material conducts electricity.
Resistivity of Metals
MATERIAL RESISTIVITY AT 20°C IN POWERS OF 10^-8
Aluminum 2.83
Brass 6.16
Carbon (Graphite) 800
Annealed Copper 1.72
Hard-drawn Copper 1.77
Iron 9.95
Lead 22
Silver 1.64
Gold 2.44
Tungsten 4.37
Sample Problem
A 1m length of wire is found to have a resistance of 25. If the
diameter of the wire is 1mm, determine the resistivity in -m
Effect of Temperature
Any increase in resistance of a pure metal is
directly proportional to its increase in
temperature.

𝑅2 = 𝑅1 1 + 𝛼1 𝑇2 − 𝑇1

Where:
𝑅2 Resistance at temperature 2 Ohms
𝑅1 Resistance at temperature 1 Ohms
Temperature coefficient of the material at Per degree
𝛼1
temperature 1 Celsius
Effect of Temperature
Temperature coefficient of some metals at zero degrees celsius 𝛼0
MATERIAL TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT
Aluminum 0.00446
Copper 0.00393
Iron 0.005
Lead 0.00422
Silver 0.0038
Gold 0.0034
Tungsten 0.0048
Effect of Temperature
Temperature coefficient for different initial temperature 𝑇1

1
𝛼1 =
𝑇1 + 𝑇
Where:
Temperature coefficient of the material at
𝛼1 Per degree celsius
temperature 1
𝑇1 Temperature of conductor Celsius
Temperature of the conductor where its resistance
𝑇 Celsius
is zero
Insulators and Conductors
Insulators
Are materials with high resistivities and does not allow the flow of electricity

Conductors
Materials with low resistivities that allows the flow of electricity.
Sample Problem
The filament of a tungsten light bulb has a resistance of 125 at 400oC. Determine
its resistance at 0oC and 25oC. Assume that the temperature coefficient of
tungsten is 4.8x10-3/C