Which of the following defines resistance in an electrical circuit?

Resistance in an electrical circuit is fundamentally defined as the opposition to the flow of current. This concept is crucial because it helps us understand how electrical components affect the overall behavior of a circuit. When voltage is applied across a conductor, the presence of resistance means that not all the energy is transmitted as current; instead, some of it is dissipated as heat due to the collisions of electrons with atoms in the material.

Ohm's Law, which states that voltage (V) equals current (I) times resistance (R), further illustrates this relationship, emphasizing that for a given voltage, a higher resistance results in a lower current. This fundamental principle forms the basis for analyzing and designing electrical circuits, making resistance a key concept in understanding how electrical systems operate.