1. What is the Resistivity and Conductivity Formula?

The resistivity and conductivity formula describes the inverse relationship between electrical resistivity (ρ) and electrical conductivity (σ). Resistivity measures how strongly a material opposes electric current flow, while conductivity measures how easily electric current flows through a material.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the fundamental formula:

Where:

• \( \rho \) — Electrical resistivity (Ω·m)
• \( \sigma \) — Electrical conductivity (S/m)

Explanation: This formula shows that materials with high conductivity have low resistivity, and vice versa. The relationship is inversely proportional.

3. Importance of Resistivity and Conductivity

Details: Understanding resistivity and conductivity is crucial for material selection in electrical engineering, electronics design, power transmission systems, and semiconductor manufacturing. These properties determine how materials will perform in various electrical applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter conductivity value in Siemens per meter (S/m). The calculator will automatically compute the corresponding resistivity in Ohm-meters (Ω·m). Conductivity must be greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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, Seawater: ~5 S/m, Drinking water: ~0.0005-0.05 S/m.

Q2: How does temperature affect conductivity?
A: For metals, conductivity decreases with increasing temperature. For semiconductors, conductivity increases with temperature. For electrolytes, conductivity generally increases with temperature.

Q3: What is the difference between conductivity and conductance?
A: Conductivity is an intrinsic property of a material (S/m), while conductance depends on the geometry of the object and is measured in Siemens (S).

Q4: Why are some materials good conductors while others are insulators?
A: Good conductors have many free electrons that can move easily, while insulators have tightly bound electrons that resist movement under electric fields.

Q5: How is conductivity measured in practice?
A: Conductivity is typically measured using conductivity meters that apply an AC voltage to electrodes and measure the resulting current, or using four-point probe methods for more precise measurements.