Current Density, Conductance And Electrical Conductivity
Current density at a point in a conductor is defined as the amount of current flowing per unit area of the conductor around that point provided the area is held in a direction normal to the current.
Let I be the current distributed uniformly across a conductor of cross-sectional area A. The magnitude of the current density for all points on that cross-section of the conductor is
J=I/A
Current density is a vector quantity. Its direction is the direction of motion of positive charge.
As I=Anevd (refer article of relation between current and drift velocity)
Therefore J=I/A=Anevd/A
Or J=nevd
The unit of current density is:
Ampere(metre)-2 or Am-2
For a particular surface of conductor, the current is the flux of J over the surface S and is given by
I=∫ J.ds
Where ds is elementary surface area vctor of an element taken over the particular surface S and integral is taken over the surface in question.
Conductance(G). The inverse of resistance (R) is called conductance of a conductor, that is,
Conductance, G=1/R
The unit of conductance is mho or siemen(symbol S). Its unit is inverse of Resistance that we have discussed in Ohm’s law.
Electrical conductivity. The inverse of resistivity (ρ) of a conductor is called its electrical conductivity(σ) i.e.
σ =1/ ρ
the unit of electrical conductivity is mho m-1 or siemens/m.
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