What is effective conductivity?

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Effective conductivity refers to the conductivity of a material when accounting for factors like frequency and skin effect, which limits signal penetration in conductors. At higher frequencies, the effective conducting area is reduced due to skin depth, making it less than the total conductor area. This concept is particularly relevant in AC scenarios, such as wave propagation through a lossy dielectric medium in transmission lines. The distinction between effective and total conductivity becomes crucial in understanding how materials behave under different conditions. Understanding effective conductivity is essential for accurate analysis in electrical engineering applications.
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What is "effective" conductivity?

In one of my homework problems (This ISNT a homework help question! It is conceptual) It says to find the "effective" conductivity.

What is the difference between conductivity and effective conductivity? Is there any difference?
 
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At higher frequencies, the depth of penetration of a signal into the center conductor of a coaxial cable is limited to the skin depth δ. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_effect. So if the radius of the center conductor is r, then the effective conducting area is 2 πrδ, which is less than the total conductor area πr2.
 


Bob S said:
At higher frequencies, the depth of penetration of a signal into the center conductor of a coaxial cable is limited to the skin depth δ. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_effect. So if the radius of the center conductor is r, then the effective conducting area is 2 πrδ, which is less than the total conductor area πr2.


Thanks a lot!
 


Is this AC or DC? Is this in simple or composite materials? What is the context.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
Is this AC or DC? Is this in simple or composite materials? What is the context.

I was given a wave traveling though a lossy dielectric medium in a transmission line. So this is AC.
 


Then Bob's answer is right. If it were DC, it would have been something else.
 

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