What term describes a material's resistance to magnetic flux?

The term that distinctly describes a material's resistance to magnetic flux is reluctance. In magnetic circuits, reluctance is analogous to electrical resistance in electric circuits. It measures how much a material opposes the establishment of magnetic flux within it, much like how resistance limits the flow of electric current.

Reluctance is influenced by various factors, including the permeability of the material and the geometry of the magnetic circuit. Materials with high reluctance impede the flow of magnetic lines of force, while materials with low reluctance allow magnetic flux to pass more readily.

Recognizing reluctance as the right term allows for a better understanding of magnetic properties and behaviors in various applications, such as transformers and inductors, where managing magnetic flow is critical for efficiency and performance.