What is the term for the opposition to current flow through a material?

The term for the opposition to current flow through a material is resistance. In electrical terms, resistance is a property of materials that determines how much they resist the flow of electric current. It is measured in ohms and fundamentally depends on the type of material, its temperature, and its physical dimensions. Materials with high resistance impede current flow significantly, whereas materials with low resistance allow current to flow more freely.

Understanding resistance is crucial for linemen, as it plays a vital role in the design and functioning of electrical circuits. For instance, resistance affects how much current will flow in a given circuit when a specific voltage is applied, which is foundational in calculating and ensuring system performance.