What is Conductance?

 

When we apply same potential difference across different conductors, we will see different currents flow through them. Actually how much current will flow through a specific conductor for certain applied potential difference across it, depends upon a specific property of the conductor, called electrical conductance . This property determines how easily a current can flow through a conductor.

 

As we know resistance is such a property of a conductor which resists the flow of current through it. That means, electrical conductance is reciprocal property of resistance. Generally conductance is denoted as,

 

Definition of Electrical Conductance

Electrical conductance is defined as a special property of a conductor which determines how easily an current can flow through it.

 

 

Specific Conductance or Conductivity

In the equation of the conductance we have already mentioned the term σ or Sigma as conductivity. Now in that equation if we put l = 1 m & A = 1 m2 then G = σ. That indicates σ is the conductance of a conductor whose length is 1 m & cross sectional area is 1 m2. That mean specific conductance or conductivity is the conductance of a conductor whose volume is 1 m × 1 m2 = 1 m3.

 

Definition of Electrical Conductivity

Conductivity is the conductance of a material per unit volume. Electrical conductivity is a basic property of material. Due to this property one material can conduct electricity. Some materials are good conductor of electricity that means current can pass through them very easily; again some materials do not allow current to flow through them. The material through which current passes easily, called good conductor of electricity in other words, the electrical conductivity of these materials is high. On the other hand the materials do not allow the current to flow through them are called electrical insulators. There are some materials whose electrical conductivity is not as high as conductor and also not as poor as insulator, they have an intermediate conductivity and these type of materials are known as semiconductors.