Aluminium vs Copper in power lines

[Monosandalus]

Hi,

I have a question concerning the use of aluminium in power lines. I know that it's lighter than copper and thus cheaper, which is the main reason we prefer it above copper. But in fact alumunium has a lower conductivity than copper. Why is it then that one kg of aluminium can carry twice as much electricity as one kg of copper ? This seems to be contradictory to me.

Thank you :)

 

[collinsmark]

Here's some information that should be useful in the process of considering the question objectively:

Resistivity, \rho_e, \mathrm{(\Omega \cdot m)}:

Copper: 1.68 \times 10^{-8}
Aluminum: 2.86 \times 10^{-8}​

Conductivity, \sigma, \mathrm{(S / m)}:

Copper: 5.96 \times 10^{7}
Aluminum: 3.50 \times 10^{7}​

Density \rho_m, \mathrm{(g/cm^3)} [Edit: corrected copy-paste error and a typo.]

Copper: 8.96
Aluminum: 2.70
​

By the way, resistivity and conductivity are not independent. They are merely reciprocals. \rho_e = 1/\sigma. Both resisitivity and conductivity are given in terms of spatial dimensions, such as unit cross-sectional area and unit length.

If A is the cross sectional area of the conductor, \ell is the conductor's length, then

Resistance, r = \frac{\rho_e \ell}{A}

Conductance, G = \frac{1}{r} = \frac{\sigma A}{\ell}

Mass, m = A \ell \rho_m

 

[rbelli1]

Density ρm,(g/cm2) \rho_m, (g/cm^2)
Copper: 2.70
Aluminum: 8.96

You got those swapped. Copper is the higher density material.

BoB

 

[Nidum]

Think about two wires of equal length . One made from 1 kg of Copper and the other from 1 kg of Aluminium .

 

[collinsmark]

And the price of metals depends on many factors besides just their densities (their weights). Lead is not cheaper than silver because it is lighter (it isn't: lead is heavier than silver); it's cheaper because it is more abundant and easier to extract.

 

[collinsmark]

You got those swapped. Copper is the higher density material.

BoB

Thanks. It was a copy-paste error. Correction made.