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Conductivity Formula:
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The conversion from resistivity to conductivity is a fundamental relationship in electrical engineering and materials science. Conductivity (σ) is the reciprocal of resistivity (ρ), representing how well a material conducts electric current.
The calculator uses the simple reciprocal formula:
Where:
Explanation: This relationship shows that materials with high resistivity have low conductivity, and vice versa. The formula applies to all conductive materials.
Details: Electrical conductivity is crucial for material selection in electrical applications, circuit design, semiconductor manufacturing, and quality control of conductive materials.
Tips: Enter resistivity value in Ohm-meters (Ω·m). The value must be greater than zero. The calculator will automatically compute the corresponding conductivity in Siemens per meter (S/m).
Q1: What is the difference between resistivity and conductivity?
A: Resistivity measures how strongly a material opposes electric current flow, while conductivity measures how easily electric current flows through a material. They are reciprocal properties.
Q2: What are typical resistivity values for common materials?
A: Copper: ~1.68×10⁻⁸ Ω·m, Silver: ~1.59×10⁻⁸ Ω·m, Glass: ~10¹⁰-10¹⁴ Ω·m, Rubber: ~10¹³-10¹⁶ Ω·m.
Q3: Why is conductivity important in material science?
A: Conductivity determines a material's suitability for electrical applications, helps identify material purity, and is essential for semiconductor device design.
Q4: Does temperature affect conductivity?
A: Yes, for most metals, conductivity decreases with increasing temperature, while for semiconductors, conductivity increases with temperature.
Q5: What units are used for conductivity?
A: The SI unit is Siemens per meter (S/m), but milliSiemens per centimeter (mS/cm) is also commonly used in water quality testing.