Understanding Conductivity and Its Inverse
Conductivity is a measure of a material's ability to conduct electric current. It is an essential property in various fields, particularly in chemistry and physics. The inverse of conductivity is known as resistivity.
What is Resistivity?
- Definition: Resistivity is the measure of how strongly a material opposes the flow of electric current. It quantifies how much resistance a material presents to the flow of electric charge.
- Formula Relation: Mathematically, resistivity (ρ) is the inverse of conductivity (σ):
ρ = 1/σ. This relationship highlights that as conductivity increases, resistivity decreases, and vice versa.
Understanding the Options
- Cell Constant: This term is specific to the geometry of a conductivity cell and does not represent an inverse relationship.
- Resistance: While related to the flow of current, resistance is not the inverse of conductivity. Instead, it depends on both resistivity and dimensions of the conductor.
- Conductance: Conductance is actually the reciprocal of resistance, not conductivity. It measures how easily electric current can flow through a material.
Conclusion
Based on these definitions and relationships, the correct answer to the question about the inverse of conductivity is:
Resistivity (Option D)
This highlights the fundamental relationship between conductivity and resistivity, critical for understanding electric properties in materials.