Conductivity to Resistivity Calculator
Convert between electrical conductivity and resistivity for materials and substances
Calculate Conductivity ↔ Resistivity
Select a material to auto-fill properties or choose Custom to enter your own values
Ability to conduct electric current
Opposition to electric current flow
Conversion Results
Formula used: ρ = 1/σ and σ = 1/ρ
Material: Custom
Note: These are intrinsic properties that depend on material composition and temperature
Example Calculations
Copper Wire
Conductivity: 5.95 × 10⁷ S/m
Calculation: ρ = 1/σ = 1/(5.95 × 10⁷)
Resistivity: 1.68 × 10⁻⁸ Ω⋅m
Classification: Excellent conductor (used in electrical wiring)
Silicon Semiconductor
Resistivity: 640 Ω⋅m (pure silicon)
Calculation: σ = 1/ρ = 1/640
Conductivity: 1.56 × 10⁻³ S/m
Classification: Semiconductor (conductivity varies with doping)
Material Classification
Conductors
σ ≥ 10⁶ S/m
Metals, low resistance
Semiconductors
10⁻⁶ ≤ σ < 10⁶ S/m
Silicon, germanium, variable
Insulators
σ < 10⁻⁶ S/m
Glass, rubber, high resistance
Unit Guide
Conductivity Units
S/m = Siemens per meter
(Ω⋅m)⁻¹ = per ohm-meter
Resistivity Units
Ω⋅m = Ohm-meters
Ω⋅cm = Ohm-centimeters
Relationship
σ = 1/ρ (reciprocal)
Independent of dimensions
Understanding Electrical Conductivity and Resistivity
Electrical Conductivity (σ)
Electrical conductivity is a material's ability to conduct electric current. It represents how easily electrical charges can move through the material. Materials with high conductivity allow current to flow with minimal resistance.
Electrical Resistivity (ρ)
Electrical resistivity is a material's intrinsic property that quantifies how strongly it opposes the flow of electric current. Unlike resistance, resistivity is independent of the material's dimensions and depends only on the material's composition and temperature.
Key Relationships
σ = 1/ρ
ρ = 1/σ
σ: Conductivity (S/m)
ρ: Resistivity (Ω⋅m)
Important Properties
- •Intrinsic: Independent of size and shape
- •Temperature dependent: Changes with temperature
- •Reciprocal relationship: High σ = Low ρ