Electric conductivity
Electric Conductivity is a fundamental property of materials that quantifies how well they can conduct an electric current. It is defined as the ability of a substance to allow the flow of electric charges through it. The concept of electric conductivity is crucial in various fields, including physics, engineering, electronics, and materials science.
Overview[edit | edit source]
Electric conductivity is typically denoted by the symbol σ (sigma) and is measured in siemens per meter (S/m) in the International System of Units (SI). The inverse of electric conductivity is electrical resistivity, represented by ρ (rho), which measures a material's opposition to the flow of electric current.
Types of Conductivity[edit | edit source]
There are mainly two types of electric conductivity:
- Metallic conductivity: This type occurs in metals and their alloys, where free electrons flow through the metal lattice. Metals such as copper, silver, and aluminum are known for their high metallic conductivity.
- Electrolytic conductivity: This type is observed in electrolytes, where ions move through a liquid or solution. Electrolytic conductivity is crucial in the functioning of batteries and fuel cells.
Factors Affecting Electric Conductivity[edit | edit source]
Several factors can influence the electric conductivity of a material, including:
- Temperature: Generally, the conductivity of metals decreases with an increase in temperature, while the conductivity of semiconductors and electrolytes increases.
- Material composition: The type of atoms, the structure of the material, and the presence of impurities can significantly affect conductivity.
- Physical state: The conductivity can vary between the solid, liquid, and gaseous states of a substance.
Applications[edit | edit source]
Electric conductivity has a wide range of applications in various industries:
- In electronics, it is used to design and manufacture components like wires, resistors, and capacitors.
- In material science, measuring the conductivity of materials helps in characterizing and selecting materials for specific applications.
- In environmental science, conductivity measurements of water are used as an indicator of water quality.
Measurement[edit | edit source]
The measurement of electric conductivity is typically performed using a conductivity meter, which applies an electric voltage to a sample and measures the resulting current. The conductivity can then be calculated based on the dimensions of the sample and the applied voltage.
See Also[edit | edit source]
Electric conductivity Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Translate to: East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD