Rafleiðnimæling

rafleiðnimæling is the process of measuring a material's ability to conduct electric current. This measurement is fundamental in physics, engineering, and materials science, as it provides insight into the electrical properties of various substances. The conductivity of a material is typically expressed in siemens per meter (s/m) and is the reciprocal of electrical resistivity.

Several methods exist for measuring electrical conductivity, including the four-point probe technique, which is commonly used for solid materials, and conductivity cells for liquids and solutions. The four-point probe method eliminates contact resistance issues by using two outer probes to pass current and two inner probes to measure voltage drop. For solutions, conductivity cells with electrodes of known geometry are used, and the cell constant must be calibrated for accurate measurements.

Temperature significantly affects electrical conductivity measurements, as most materials exhibit changes in conductivity with temperature variations. Therefore, temperature control or compensation is often necessary during measurements. The measurement results are crucial for applications such as material characterization, quality control in manufacturing, and environmental monitoring of water quality.