Which term describes the opposition to current flow in an electrical circuit?

The term that describes the opposition to current flow in an electrical circuit is resistance. Resistance refers specifically to the ability of a material or component to resist the flow of electric current, causing energy to be dissipated as heat. It is measured in ohms and is a fundamental concept in electrical engineering and circuitry.

Resistance can arise from the inherent properties of materials, as different materials can have different levels of conductivity. In a circuit, whenever current passes through a resistive element, the resistance determines how much current flows for a given voltage applied, as per Ohm’s Law (V = IR), where V is voltage, I is current, and R is resistance.

Admittance, while related to electrical flow, actually measures how easily a circuit allows current to flow and is the reciprocal of resistance. Reactance represents opposition to alternating current due to inductance and capacitance, rather than direct resistance. Impedance encompasses both resistance and reactance in AC circuits, indicating total opposition to current flow. However, when specifically describing the opposition in a more straightforward DC context, resistance is the most accurate term.