The word "megohm" is a commonly used term in electrical engineering and refers to a unit of electrical resistance. The correct spelling of this word is /ˈmɛɡəʊm/, with emphasis on the first syllable. The first part of the word "meg" indicates the unit of measurement (mega, meaning one million), while the second part "ohm" refers to the unit of electrical resistance, which is named after Georg Simon Ohm, the German physicist who first defined the relationship between current, resistance, and voltage in 1827.
A megohm is a unit of electrical resistance, often represented by the symbol MΩ. It is derived from the combination of the prefix "mega" meaning one million and the base unit of electrical resistance, the ohm. The megohm is used to measure extremely high resistances, typically in the range of millions of ohms.
Resistance, in the context of electrical circuits, refers to the property of a component that hinders the flow of electric current through it. It is measured in ohms and indicates the amount of opposition encountered by the current. The higher the resistance, the more difficult it is for current to pass through the circuit.
The megohm is particularly significant in situations where extremely high resistances are encountered, such as in insulators or materials with low conductivity. It provides a practical means of quantifying resistances that would be impractical or cumbersome to express in smaller units, such as ohms or kilohms.
This unit of measure is commonly used in various fields, including electronics, telecommunications, and electrical engineering. Engineers and technicians employ megohms to assess the resistance of different components or materials, determine the insulation capabilities of electrical wires or cables, and evaluate the performance of electrical insulators or coatings.
In summary, a megohm is a unit of measurement used to express extremely high electrical resistances, typically in the range of millions of ohms, and is represented by the symbol MΩ.
A unit of electrical resistance, equal to one million ohms.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "megohm" is derived from combining two elements: "mega-" and "ohm".
1. "Mega-" is a prefix that comes from the Greek word "megas", meaning "great" or "large". It denotes a factor of one million, indicating a significant magnitude or size.
2. "Ohm" is the SI unit of electrical resistance, named after the German physicist Georg Simon Ohm. He formulated Ohm's law, which describes the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in an electrical circuit.
By combining "mega-" and "ohm", the word "megohm" is formed, indicating a large value of electrical resistance.