Higher Tier Only: Resistivity
This higher tier covers Higher Tier Only: Resistivity within Resistance & Ohm's Law for GCSE Physics. Revise Resistance & Ohm's Law in Electricity for GCSE Physics with 16 exam-style questions and 30 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 13 of 16 in this topic. This section is most useful once the core foundation idea is secure, because it adds the detail that pushes answers higher.
Topic position
Section 13 of 16
Practice
16 questions
Recall
30 flashcards
🎓 Higher Tier Only: Resistivity
The resistance of a wire depends on its resistivity (ρ) — a property of the material itself, measured in Ω·m.
This equation shows that resistance is directly proportional to length and inversely proportional to cross-sectional area — it quantifies what the GCSE required practical investigates qualitatively. Copper has very low resistivity (~1.7 × 10⁻⁸ Ω·m), which is why it's used for electrical wiring.
Keep building this topic
Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Resistance & Ohm's Law. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.
Practice Questions for Resistance & Ohm's Law
Which of the following best describes electrical resistance?
Explain what is meant by an ohmic conductor.
Quick Recall Flashcards
16 questions on Resistance & Ohm's Law — practise free
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