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Most substances fall into two categories - conductors and insulators.

Conductors are those which electricity can pass through relatively easily. Metals are the usual example, but other substances such as graphite and polar liquids such as water are also good conductors.

Insulators are poor conductors: those that electricity cannot pass through easily. Most plastics are insulators.

Some substances fall in between: these are semiconductors, which allow electricity through in some instances, but not in others. This property makes them very useful in electronics.

Some substances can be such good conductors that, under some circumstances, they can allow electricity to pass through them with no resistance at all. These are called superconductors.

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The ease with which a material allows electricity to move is called what?

The ease with which a material allows electricity to move is called electrical conductivity. Materials with high electrical conductivity allow electricity to flow easily, while materials with low electrical conductivity impede the flow of electricity.


What is thermal and electrical conductiuity?

Thermal conductivity is the ability of a material to conduct heat, while electrical conductivity is the ability to conduct electricity. Materials with high thermal conductivity can transfer heat quickly, while those with high electrical conductivity allow electricity to flow easily. Both properties are important in various applications, such as in electronics and thermal management.


What is the best description of conductivity and how does it relate to the flow of electrical current through a material?

Conductivity is a measure of how well a material can conduct electricity. It is related to the flow of electrical current through a material because materials with high conductivity allow electricity to flow easily, while materials with low conductivity impede the flow of electricity.


What is the significance of the conductivity tensor in the field of materials science and how does it influence the electrical properties of materials?

The conductivity tensor is important in materials science because it describes how materials conduct electricity in different directions. It influences the electrical properties of materials by determining how easily electricity can flow through them, which is crucial for designing electronic devices and understanding the behavior of materials in various applications.


What does thermal and electrical conductivity mean?

Thermal conductivity refers to a material's ability to conduct heat, with higher conductivity indicating faster heat transfer. Electrical conductivity, on the other hand, refers to a material's ability to conduct electricity, with higher conductivity allowing better flow of electrical current. Both properties are important in various applications, such as in designing efficient cooling systems or conducting electricity in electronic devices.

Related Questions

The ease with which a material allows electricity to move is called what?

The ease with which a material allows electricity to move is called electrical conductivity. Materials with high electrical conductivity allow electricity to flow easily, while materials with low electrical conductivity impede the flow of electricity.


What conductor has the best electrical conductivity at room temperature?

Silver has the best electrical conductivity at room temperature among all natural materials. It is commonly used in electrical wiring and components due to its high conductivity.


How conductivity effects power?

Conductivty is an electrical property of conducting materials. Silver has the higest conductivity, then copper then aluminimum. Conductivity does not really change with electrical wiring so the power will not be directly affected.


The ability of an object to transfer electric current?

The ability of an object to transfer electric current is determined by its electrical conductivity. Materials with high electrical conductivity, such as metals, allow electric current to flow easily through them, while insulating materials have low electrical conductivity and inhibit the flow of current. Conductors like copper and silver are widely used for their high electrical conductivity.


What is relative conductivity?

Relative conductivity refers to the ability of a material to conduct electricity compared to a standard material. It is commonly used to compare the conductivity of different materials based on their relative values. Materials with higher relative conductivity values exhibit better electrical conductivity than materials with lower relative conductivity values.


What is thermal and electrical conductiuity?

Thermal conductivity is the ability of a material to conduct heat, while electrical conductivity is the ability to conduct electricity. Materials with high thermal conductivity can transfer heat quickly, while those with high electrical conductivity allow electricity to flow easily. Both properties are important in various applications, such as in electronics and thermal management.


What is the best description of conductivity and how does it relate to the flow of electrical current through a material?

Conductivity is a measure of how well a material can conduct electricity. It is related to the flow of electrical current through a material because materials with high conductivity allow electricity to flow easily, while materials with low conductivity impede the flow of electricity.


What has the ability inability to conduct an electrical current is called?

A material's ability to conduct electricity is determined by its conductivity. Materials with high conductivity can easily conduct electrical currents, while those with low conductivity have difficulty allowing the flow of electricity.


How will be the therml conductivity and melting pointin Electrical contact materials used in switches brushes and relays must possess?

How will be the therml conductivity and melting pointin Electrical contact materials used in switches brushes and relays must possess


What does electrical conductivity of a substance depend on?

The electrical conductivity of a substance depends on the presence of free electrons or ions that are able to carry electric current. Materials with high electrical conductivity typically have a high number of free electrons or ions that can move easily in response to an electric field. Conversely, materials with low electrical conductivity have fewer free charge carriers available to conduct electricity.


How do you distinguish between conductive and non-conducting materials?

By measurements of the electrical (or thermal) conductivity.


Do elements that have high electric conductivity also have high thermal conductivity?

Not necessarily. While there is some correlation between electrical and thermal conductivity in metals, there are exceptions. For example, diamond is a good thermal insulator despite being a good electrical insulator. Additionally, materials like ceramics can have low electrical conductivity but high thermal conductivity.