How Does Electrical Conductivity Behave in Non-Uniform Conductors?

Hi! I'm an electrical engineer and I can help you with your doubts.- Alex: Thank you, Warren! So, in this situation, is the electric field inside the conductor uniform? What direction is it pointing?In summary, two questions were raised regarding the situation depicted in the attachment. The first question is about the uniformity and direction of the electric field inside the conductor, while the second question is about the nature of the conductivity and its constancy along the conductor. Alex is seeking help from Warren, an electrical engineer.
  • #1
harshant
30
0
Electrical conductivity ??

I have 3 doubts regarding the situation depicted in the attachment (sorry for my bad drawing). The diagram below shows an electrical conductor with the ends mantained at constant potentials (red higher than blue), and current density being shown by the black arrows.
1. Is the electric field inside the conductor uniform, and what direction is it pointing?
2. If the electric field is uniform, can the conductivity be considered as a scalar (because then the current density would not always be along the wire) or it has to be considered as a tensor which transforms the uniform electric field to a current density along the wire?
3. Is the conductivity tensor constant along the conductor?
 

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  • #2
Somebody please help!
 
  • #3
The wire can still be modeled as one-dimensional, even though it is not straight.

- Warren
 

1. What is electrical conductivity?

Electrical conductivity is the measure of a material's ability to conduct an electric current. It is a physical property that describes how easily an electric charge can flow through a material.

2. What factors affect electrical conductivity?

The type of material, its temperature, and its physical structure are the main factors that affect electrical conductivity. Materials with free electrons, such as metals, have high conductivity, while insulators, such as rubber, have low conductivity.

3. How is electrical conductivity measured?

Electrical conductivity is typically measured in siemens per meter (S/m) or mho per meter (℧/m). It can be measured using a device called a conductivity meter, which applies an electric current to the material and measures the resulting voltage.

4. What are some examples of materials with high electrical conductivity?

Metals such as copper, silver, and gold have high electrical conductivity. Other materials with high conductivity include saline solutions, graphite, and plasma.

5. How does electrical conductivity relate to electrical resistance?

Electrical conductivity and electrical resistance are inversely related. This means that materials with high conductivity have low resistance, while materials with low conductivity have high resistance. Resistance is the measure of how much a material impedes the flow of electric current.

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