Volta potential by its work function, and so dissimilar metals can show an electric potential difference even at equilibrium. The Volta potential is "not" an intrinsic property of the two bulk metals under consideration, but rather is determined by work function differences between the metals' surfaces. Just like the work function, the Volta potential depends sensitively on surface state, contamination, and so on. The potential is given by the formula: formula_1, where V is the potential, The Volta potential can be significant (of order 1 volt) but it cannot be measured directly by an ordinary voltmeter. A voltmeter does not measure vacuum
Negative resistance be defined, but the resistance is not constant; it varies with the voltage or current through the device. The resistance of such a nonlinear device can be defined in two ways, which are equal for ohmic resistances: Negative resistance, like positive resistance, is measured in ohms. Conductance is the reciprocal of resistance. It is measured in siemens (formerly "mho") which is the conductance of a resistor with a resistance of one ohm. Each type of resistance defined above has a corresponding conductance It can be seen that the conductance has the same sign as its corresponding resistance: a negative resistance