What is the synonym for impedance in electrical terms?

The term impedance in electrical terms refers to the measure of opposition that a circuit presents to the passage of a current when a voltage is applied. It encompasses both resistance and reactance within an AC (alternating current) circuit.

Resistance specifically represents the opposition to direct current (DC) flow and is measured in ohms. While impedance is a broader term that includes both resistance (the real part) and reactance (the imaginary part), in many contexts, particularly in discussions regarding direct current or simple resistive circuits, resistance can serve as a synonym for impedance when reactance is negligible or not a factor.

This makes resistance the most appropriate synonym for impedance in basic electrical concepts where the complexity of reactance is not being considered. The other terms—voltage and conductance—are related but describe different concepts in electrical circuits. Voltage refers to the electrical potential difference between two points, and conductance is the reciprocal of resistance, describing how easily electricity flows through a conductor.