Physics A-Level
Resistivity
What Resistivity means in Physics A-Level, as defined for Pearson Edexcel.
Definitions of Resistivity
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
A fundamental property of a material that measures how strongly it resists electric current, independent of its dimensions.
A property of a material, defined as the resistance of a wire of the material of unit length and unit cross-sectional area.
Topics that use Resistivity
- Electric Circuits (Pearson Edexcel A-Level)
- Materials (Pearson Edexcel A-Level)
- Mechanics (Pearson Edexcel A-Level)
Related terms
- Electromotive Force (e.m.f.)
- Potential Difference
- Ohmic Conductor
- Internal Resistance
- Ohm's Law
- Resistance
- Conventional Current
Using Resistivity in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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