Enter the resistance, length, and cross-sectional area into the calculator to determine the electrical conductivity of a material. The calculator will evaluate the conductivity in Siemens per meter.
Conductivity Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the electrical conductivity:
σ = (1 / R) * (A / L)
Variables:
- σ (sigma) is the electrical conductivity (Siemens per meter)
- R is the electrical resistance (ohms)
- A is the cross-sectional area of the material (square meters)
- L is the length of the material (meters)
To calculate electrical conductivity, divide one by the resistance, and then multiply the result by the cross-sectional area divided by the length of the material.
What is Electrical Conductivity?
Electrical conductivity is a measure of a material’s ability to conduct an electric current. It is the reciprocal of electrical resistivity and is used to characterize materials in terms of their conductive properties. High conductivity indicates that a material allows electric current to flow easily, while low conductivity means the material is more resistant to electric current.
How to Calculate Electrical Conductivity?
The following steps outline how to calculate the electrical conductivity:
- First, determine the electrical resistance (R) in ohms.
- Next, determine the cross-sectional area of the material (A) in square meters.
- Next, determine the length of the material (L) in meters.
- Use the formula σ = (1 / R) * (A / L) to calculate the electrical conductivity (σ).
- After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem:
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
Resistance (R) = 2 ohms
Cross-sectional Area (A) = 0.001 square meters
Length (L) = 3 meters