4

Table 1.1 Resistivities at 20 C

Material Resistivity Conductivity

Ohm metres Siemens per metre

Silver 1.64 108 6.10 107

Copper (annealed) 1.72 108 5.8 107
Gold 2.4 108 4.17 107
Aluminium (hard) 2.82 108 3.55 107
Tungsten 5.0 108 2.00 107
Zinc 5.95 108 1.68 107
Brass 6.6 108 1.52 107
Nickel 6.9 108 1.45 107
Platinum 11.0 108 9.09 106
Tin 11.5 108 8.70 106
Iron 10.15 108 9.85 106
Steel 19.9 108 5.03 106
German Silver 1640 108 6.32.5 106
Platinoid 34.4 108 2.91 106
Manganin 44.0 108 2.27 106
Gas carbon 0.005 200
Silicon 0.06 16.7
Gutta-percha 2 107 5 108
Glass (soda-lime) 5 109 2 1010
Ebonite 2 1013 5 1014
Porcelain 2 1013 5 1014
Sulphur 4 1013 2.5 1014
Mica 9 1013 1.1 1014
Parafn-wax 3 1016 3.3 1017

compared with the actual resistance at 0 C. The coefcient for copper may be
taken as 0.004. The increase in resistance for rise of temperature is important,
and for many calculations this factor must be taken into account.
Power. Power is dened as the rate of doing work. The electrical unit
of power (P ) is the watt (abbreviation W), and taking a steady current as
with d.c.

1W = 1V 1A
or W=V A
or in symbols P =V I

(For alternating current, see page 12)

Note: 1 kW = 1000 W
Energy. Energy can be dened as power time, and electrical energy is
obtained from
Energy = V I t

where t is the time in seconds.