Which four metals are listed as having the least resistance?

Which four metals are listed as having the least resistance?

• A. Iron, Nickel, Titanium, Zinc
• B. Platinum, Palladium, Copper, Silver
• C. Silver, Copper, Gold, and Aluminum
• D. Lead, Tin, Bronze, Brass

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that resistance in metals is tied to resistivity: the lower the resistivity, the less resistance a material offers to current. Among common metals at room temperature, the order of conductivity from highest to lower is silver, copper, gold, and aluminum. That’s why this four-metal set has the least resistance. Silver has the highest conductivity, making it the best conductor. Copper is nearly as good and widely used because it combines excellent conductivity with reasonable cost and ductility. Gold is also highly conductive but more expensive and less prone to tarnish, which is valuable in certain applications. Aluminum, while not as conductive as the previous three, is still very good and has advantages like light weight and cost, so it’s a common alternative in many circuits and power applications. Alloys and other metals listed in the other options generally have higher resistivity than copper, silver, gold, or aluminum, so they don’t rank among the lowest-resistance metal options. Temperature can shift these values a bit, but at room temperature, the four mentioned are the leaders in low resistance.

The main idea is that resistance in metals is tied to resistivity: the lower the resistivity, the less resistance a material offers to current. Among common metals at room temperature, the order of conductivity from highest to lower is silver, copper, gold, and aluminum. That’s why this four-metal set has the least resistance.

Silver has the highest conductivity, making it the best conductor. Copper is nearly as good and widely used because it combines excellent conductivity with reasonable cost and ductility. Gold is also highly conductive but more expensive and less prone to tarnish, which is valuable in certain applications. Aluminum, while not as conductive as the previous three, is still very good and has advantages like light weight and cost, so it’s a common alternative in many circuits and power applications.

Alloys and other metals listed in the other options generally have higher resistivity than copper, silver, gold, or aluminum, so they don’t rank among the lowest-resistance metal options. Temperature can shift these values a bit, but at room temperature, the four mentioned are the leaders in low resistance.