____________ is independent of size and shape of a conductor

The property that is independent of the size and shape of a conductor is its resistivity. Resistivity is a material property that quantifies how strongly a given material opposes the flow of electric current. It is denoted by the Greek letter ρ (rho) and is measured in units of ohm-meters (Ω.m).

Here are the steps to understand this:

1. Resistivity is a fundamental property of materials, which means it doesn't change with the dimensions of the material. It is a measure of how much a material resists the flow of electricity.

2. The resistivity of a material is determined by the nature of the material itself. For example, metals have low resistivity because they have free electrons that can move easily, while insulators have high resistivity because they lack free electrons.

3. The size and shape of a conductor do affect its resistance, but not its resistivity. The resistance of a conductor is directly proportional to its length and inversely proportional to its cross-sectional area. This relationship is given by the formula R = ρL/A, where R is the resistance, L is the length, A is the cross-sectional area, and ρ is the resistivity.

4. Therefore, if you change the size or shape of a conductor, you will change its resistance, but not its resistivity. The resistivity remains constant because it is a property of the material itself, not of the particular piece of material you are considering.