What is defined as opposition to electron flow?

Resistance is defined as opposition to electron flow in an electrical circuit. It is a fundamental concept in electrical theory that describes how much a material resists the movement of electric current, measured in ohms (Ω). When a voltage is applied across a conductor, the level of resistance dictates how much current will flow according to Ohm's Law, which states that current is equal to voltage divided by resistance (I = V/R). This concept illustrates that higher resistance leads to lower current flow for a given voltage.

Resistance can be influenced by various factors, including the material's properties (such as temperature and composition), length, and cross-sectional area. Understanding resistance is crucial for designing efficient electrical circuits and systems, as it affects energy loss in the form of heat.

In contrast, inductance, conductance, and capacitance refer to different electrical properties. Inductance relates to the ability of a component to store energy in a magnetic field, conductance is the measure of a material's ability to conduct electric current (the reciprocal of resistance), and capacitance is the ability to store energy in an electric field. While all of these concepts play important roles in electrical circuits, they do not describe opposition to electron flow as directly as resistance does.