ABSTRACT
An electron travelling through the wires and loads of an electric circuit encounters resistance. Resistance is the hindrance to the flow of charge. The flow of charge through wires is often compared to the flow of water through pipes. The resistance to the flow of charge in an electric circuit is analogous to the frictional effects between water and the pipe surfaces as well as the resistance offered by obstacles that are present in its path. The resistance of an electrical conductor depends on four factors, these being: the length of the conductor, the cross-sectional area of the conductor, the type of material and the temperature of the material. In general, as the temperature of a material increases, most conductors increase in resistance, insulators decrease in resistance, whilst the resistance of some special alloys remains almost constant.
