Resistance Formula:
Converts conductivity to resistance.
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The conversion from conductivity to resistance is a fundamental calculation in electrical engineering and materials science. It allows you to determine the resistance of a material based on its conductivity, length, and cross-sectional area.
The calculator uses the following equations:
Where:
Explanation: The calculator first converts conductivity to resistivity (the inverse of conductivity), then calculates resistance based on the material's dimensions.
Details: Accurate resistance calculation is crucial for designing electrical circuits, selecting appropriate wire gauges, and understanding material properties in electronic applications.
Tips: Enter conductivity in siemens per meter (S/m), length in meters, and cross-sectional area in square meters. All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What's the difference between conductivity and resistivity?
A: Conductivity (σ) measures how well a material conducts electricity, while resistivity (ρ) measures how strongly it resists current flow. They are inverses of each other (ρ = 1/σ).
Q2: What are typical conductivity values?
A: Silver has σ ≈ 6.3×10⁷ S/m, copper ≈ 5.96×10⁷ S/m, seawater ≈ 5 S/m, while distilled water ≈ 5×10⁻⁶ S/m.
Q3: How does length affect resistance?
A: Resistance is directly proportional to length - doubling the length doubles the resistance (for constant area and material).
Q4: How does area affect resistance?
A: Resistance is inversely proportional to cross-sectional area - doubling the area halves the resistance.
Q5: What are common applications?
A: This calculation is used in wire sizing, PCB trace design, resistor manufacturing, and analyzing material properties.