What is Electrical conductivity?
'''Electrical conductivity''' is the measure of a material's ability to allow the transport of an electric charge. Its [[SI]] is the ''[[siemens (unit)|siemens]] per [[metre|meter]]'', ([[ampere|A]]<sup>2</sup>[[second|s]]<sup>3</sup>[[metre|m]]<sup>−3</sup>[[kilogram|kg]]<sup>−1</sup>) (named after [[Werner von Siemens]]) or, more simply, Sm<sup>−1</sup>. It is the ratio of the [[electric current|current]] density to the [[electric field]] strength. It is equivalent to the electrical conductance measured between opposite faces of a 1-metre cube of the material under test. *The symbol for electrical conductivity is '''κ''' ([[kappa]]), and also '''σ''' ([[sigma]]) or '''γ''' ([[gamma]]). Electrical conductance is an [[electric charge|electrical phenomenon]] where a material contains movable particles with [[electric charge]] (such as [[electrons]]), which can carry [[electricity]]. When a difference of electrical potential is placed across a conductor, its electrons flow, and an [[electric current]] appears. A [[Electrical conductor|conductor]] such as a [[metal]] has high conductivity, and an [[Insulator (electricity)|insulator]] like [[glass]] or a [[vacuum]] has low conductivity. A [[semiconductor]] has a conductivity that varies widely under different conditions. Electrical conductivity is the [[reciprocal]] (or [[inverse]]) of [[electrical resistivity]]. {{sci-stub}} [[Category:Electricity]] [[Category:Materials science]]