Electrical conductivity, also known as specific conductance, is the measure of a material's ability to conduct an electric current. It is defined as the ratio of the current density to the electric field strength, and is typically denoted by the symbol sigma (σ).
Materials with high electrical conductivity are good conductors of electricity, such as metals like copper and aluminum. Poor conductors, or insulators, have low electrical conductivity. Electrical conductivity is an important property in many fields, including electrical engineering, materials science, and physics.
In practical applications, electrical conductivity is often used to determine the quality and purity of materials. For example, the conductivity of water can be used to measure its level of contamination, while the conductivity of a metal can indicate the presence of impurities or defects.
The formula for determining the electrical conductivity is defined as:
\(\sigma\): the conductivity
\(R\): the resistance of the material
\(A\): the cross sectional area of the material
\(L\): the length of the material
The SI unit of electrical conductivity is: \(siemens/meter\)
Find \(\sigma\)
Use this calculator to find the conductivity of a uniform material when the resistance, the length and the cross sectional area of the material are given.
the resistance of the material
the cross sectional area of the material
the length of the material
