Conductivity is a measure of the ease at which an electric charge or heat can pass through a material. It is a term applied to a variety of physical phenomena, including electrical, ionic, hydraulic, and thermal conductivity. The following are some key points about conductivity:
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Electrical Conductivity: This is the current or the quantity of electricity passing per second through a material when the potential gradient is unity, and it is the reciprocal of the resistivity. Electrical conductivity tells us how well a material will allow electricity to travel through it.
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Thermal Conductivity: This tells us the ease upon which thermal energy (heat for most purposes) can move through a material. In heat, conductivity is the quantity of heat passing per second through a slab of unit cross-sectional area when the temperature gradient between the two faces is unity. Thermal conductivity is measured in watts per metre-kelvin (W/(m K)) or watts per centimetre-kelvin (W/(cm K)) .
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Materials: Materials are classified as metals, semiconductors, and insulators. Metals are the most conductive, while insulators (ceramics, wood, plastics) are the least conductive. Silver is the most conductive metal followed by copper and gold.
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Relationship between Electrical and Thermal Conductivity: For the most part, good electrical conductors are also good thermal conductors.
Conductivity is an important property in many fields, including electrical engineering, materials science, and physics.
