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Electrical Conductivity Formula:
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Electrical conductivity (σ) is a measure of a material's ability to conduct electric current. It is the reciprocal of electrical resistivity (ρ) and indicates how easily electric charge can flow through a material.
The calculator uses the fundamental relationship between resistivity and conductivity:
Where:
Explanation: This inverse relationship means that materials with high resistivity have low conductivity, and vice versa. Conductivity quantifies how well a material allows the flow of electric current.
Details: Electrical conductivity is crucial for material selection in electrical engineering, electronics design, semiconductor manufacturing, and quality control of conductive materials. It helps determine appropriate materials for wires, circuits, and electronic components.
Tips: Enter resistivity value in Ohm-meters (Ω·m). The value must be greater than zero. The calculator will compute the corresponding conductivity in Siemens per meter (S/m).
Q1: What are typical conductivity values for common materials?
A: Silver (~6.3×10⁷ S/m), Copper (~5.96×10⁷ S/m), Aluminum (~3.5×10⁷ S/m), Iron (~1.0×10⁷ S/m), and Seawater (~5 S/m).
Q2: How does temperature affect conductivity?
A: For metals, conductivity decreases with increasing temperature. For semiconductors, conductivity increases with temperature.
Q3: What is the difference between conductivity and conductance?
A: Conductivity is an intrinsic property of the material, while conductance depends on the material's dimensions and shape.
Q4: Why is conductivity important in electronics?
A: It determines material suitability for specific applications - high conductivity for conductors, low conductivity for insulators, and intermediate values for semiconductors.
Q5: Can this calculator be used for all materials?
A: Yes, the relationship σ = 1/ρ applies to all materials, though the actual values vary widely depending on the material type and conditions.