Overview
Electrical conductivity, a measure of a material's ability to conduct electric current, has been a cornerstone of technological advancements since the 19th century. The discovery of superconductors by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes in 1911, with a conductivity of 0 ohms at temperatures near absolute zero, revolutionized the field. Today, materials like copper, with a conductivity of 59.6 x 10^7 Siemens per meter, and silver, with a conductivity of 63 x 10^7 Siemens per meter, are widely used in electronics. However, the pursuit of higher conductivity materials continues, with researchers exploring new classes of materials like graphene and nanomaterials. The controversy surrounding the environmental impact of mining and processing these materials has sparked a debate about the true cost of technological progress. As the world becomes increasingly reliant on electrical conductivity, the question remains: what will be the next breakthrough in this field, and who will be the key players in shaping its future?
Key Facts
- Year
- 1881
- Origin
- The term 'electrical conductivity' was first coined by German physicist Friedrich Drude in his 1900 paper 'Zur Elektronentheorie der Metalle' (On the Electron Theory of Metals)
- Category
- Physics and Engineering
- Type
- Scientific Concept