Milton, S A., 1. 1404.

sistance, the principle that when a structure is in equilib. 2. Powerle to resist; helple ; unresisting. rium the pa ive forces, or stre es occasioned by minute strains, are the least that are capable of balancing the active forces, or those which are independent of the strains. Solid of least resistance, in mech ., the solid whose figure is such that in its motion through a fluid it sustains le resistance than any other having the same length and base, or, on the other hand, being stationary in a current of fluid, offers the least interruption to the progre of that fluid. In the former case it has been considered the best form for the stem of a ship; in the latter, the proper form for the pier of a bridge. The problem of finding the solid of least resistance was first proposed and solved by Newton, but only for hypothetical conditions extremely remote from those of nature.Specific resistance, the resistance offered by a conductor of any given material the length of which is one centimeter and the cro -section one square centimeter.Transition resistance, the resistance to an electric current in electrolysis caused by the presence of the ions at the electrodes. = Syn. 1. Hindrance, antagonism, check. See oppose . resistance-box (rē-zis'tans-boks), n. A box containing one or more resistance-coils. IMG:content-2064.png:[blocks in formation] resistance-coil (rē-zis'tans-koil), n . A coil of wire which offers a definite resistance to the pa age of a current of electricity. Resistance-coils are generally of German-silver wire, on account of the low temperature coefficient of that alloy, and are usually multiples or submultiples of the unit of resistance, the ohm. resistant (rē-zis'tant), a . and n. [Also res is tent ; resistant , F. résistant = Sp. Pg. It. resistente , resisten (t-)s, ppr. of resist ere , withstand, resist: see resist .] I. a. Making resistance; resisting.