Home/Technical Glossary/Electrical Resistivity Electrical Resistivity Electrical resistivity (also known as resistivity, specific electrical resistance, or volume resistivity) quantifies how strongly a given material opposes the flow of electric current. A low resistivity indicates a material that readily allows the movement of electric charge. Low resistance metals, e.g. copper, require larger currents to produce the same amount of heat. Low resistance materials also exhibit low contact resistance. For more information, read our Fundamentals of Resistance Welding