What term describes opposition to current flow in any circuit?

• A. Capacitance
• B. Inductance
• C. Resistance
• D. Reactance

Answer: (C)

Opposition to current flow in a circuit is described by resistance. It is the property that determines how much current will flow for a given voltage, summarized by Ohm’s law: V = I × R. Resistance arises from how electrons collide with atoms in a material and depends on factors like material type, cross-sectional area, length, and temperature. Capacitance is about storing charge in a capacitor, and inductance is about storing energy in a magnetic field—neither describes general opposition to current. Reactance refers to the frequency-dependent opposition created by capacitors and inductors in AC circuits. In AC analysis, the total opposition is called impedance, but the fundamental, general opposition to current flow is resistance.