Specific property in the context of Electrical resistivity


Specific property in the context of Electrical resistivity

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⭐ Core Definition: Specific property

In the natural sciences, including physiology and engineering, the qualifier specific or massic typically indicates an intensive quantity obtained by dividing an extensive quantity of interest by mass. For example, specific leaf area is leaf area divided by leaf mass.Derived SI units involve reciprocal kilogram (kg), e.g., square metre per kilogram (m⋅kg); the expression "per unit mass" is also often used.

In some fields, like acoustics, "specific" can mean division by a quantity other than mass.

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Specific property in the context of Electrical resistivity and conductivity

Electrical resistivity (also called volume resistivity or specific electrical resistance) is a fundamental specific property of a material that measures its electrical resistance or how strongly it resists electric current. A low resistivity indicates a material that readily allows electric current. Resistivity is commonly represented by the Greek letter ρ (rho). The SI unit of electrical resistivity is the ohm-metre (Ω⋅m). For example, if a 1 m solid cube of material has sheet contacts on two opposite faces, and the resistance between these contacts is 1 Ω, then the resistivity of the material is 1 Ω⋅m.

Electrical conductivity (or specific conductance) is the reciprocal of electrical resistivity. It represents a material's ability to conduct electric current. It is commonly signified by the Greek letter σ (sigma), but κ (kappa) (especially in electrical engineering) and γ (gamma) are sometimes used. The SI unit of electrical conductivity is siemens per metre (S/m). Resistivity and conductivity are intensive properties of materials, giving the opposition of a standard cube of material to current. Electrical resistance and conductance are corresponding extensive properties that give the opposition of a specific object to electric current.

View the full Wikipedia page for Electrical resistivity and conductivity
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