conductivity

views updated May 14 2018

con·duc·tiv·i·ty / ˌkänˌdəkˈtivitē; kən-/ • n. (pl. -ties) (also electrical conductivity) the degree to which a specified material conducts electricity, calculated as the ratio of the current density in the material to the electric field that causes the flow of current. It is the reciprocal of the resistivity. ∎  (also thermal conductivity) the rate at which heat passes through a specified material, expressed as the amount of heat that flows per unit time through a unit area with a temperature gradient of one degree per unit distance.

conductivity

views updated May 21 2018

conductivity Measure of the ease with which a material allows electricity or heat to pass through it. For a solid substance, the electrical conductivity is the conductance. See also electric current

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conductivity

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