resistivity

[ ree-zis-tiv-i-tee ]

noun

1. the power or property of resistance.
2. Also called specific resistance. Electricity. the resistance between opposite faces of a one-centimeter cube of a given material; ratio of electric intensity to cross-sectional area; reciprocal of conductivity.

resistivity

/ ˌriːzɪsˈtɪvɪtɪ /

noun

1. the electrical property of a material that determines the resistance of a piece of given dimensions. It is equal to RA/l , where R is the resistance, A the cross-sectional area, and l the length, and is the reciprocal of conductivity. It is measured in ohms ρ Former namespecific resistance
2. the power or capacity to resist; resistance

resistivity

/ rē′zĭs-tĭv′ĭ-tē /

1. A measure of the potential electrical resistance of a conductive material. It is determined experimentally using the equation ρ = RA/l, where R is the measured resistance of some length of the material, A is its cross-sectional area (which must be uniform), and l is its length. It is measured in ohm-meters.

Word History and Origins

Origin of resistivity¹

First recorded in 1880–85; resistive + -ity

Example Sentences

Initial tests confirmed their theory that decoupled transport channels resulted in higher ion conductivity and lower resistivity compared to homogenous membranes made from the same materials.

From Science Daily

In 2021, she arranged for geographers and students from Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Va., to use ground-penetrating radar, electrical resistivity tomography and other technologies to peer under the earth at Jungfernhof.

From New York Times

But electrical resistivity imaging of the beach and seafloor shows that both were ice-free to at least 65 feet.

From Washington Post

The groups used electrical resistivity tomography to look for any voids.

From Washington Times

For instance, could electrical resistivity be measured across the metallic transition?

From Nature