Sähkönjohtuvuuteen

Sähkönjohtavuus, often translated as electrical conductivity, is a material property that describes its ability to conduct electric current. It is the reciprocal of electrical resistivity. High electrical conductivity means that electric charge can flow easily through the material. This property is crucial in the design and function of electrical devices and components.

Materials are generally classified based on their electrical conductivity. Conductors, such as metals like copper and silver, have very high electrical conductivity due to the presence of free electrons that can move readily when an electric field is applied. Insulators, such as rubber and glass, have very low electrical conductivity because their electrons are tightly bound to atoms and are not free to move. Semiconductors, like silicon and germanium, fall between conductors and insulators, possessing a conductivity that can be controlled under certain conditions, which is fundamental to their use in electronics.

The unit of electrical conductivity in the International System of Units (SI) is siemens per meter (S/m). Temperature significantly affects electrical conductivity. For most conductors, conductivity decreases as temperature increases due to increased atomic vibrations impeding electron flow. For semiconductors, conductivity generally increases with temperature as more charge carriers are thermally excited. Understanding sähkönjohtavuus is essential for engineers and scientists working with electricity and electronic materials.