Conductance and conductivity are related terms used to describe the ability of a material to conduct electric current, but they refer to slightly different concepts.
Conductance (G) is a measure of how easily an object or material can conduct electric current. It is the reciprocal of electrical resistance (R) and is measured in units called Siemens (S). The higher the conductance, the easier it is for electric current to flow through a material. The formula for conductance is:
Conductance (G) = 1 / Resistance (R)
Conductivity (σ) is a property of a material that quantifies its intrinsic ability to conduct electric current. It is a measure of how well a specific material conducts electricity. Conductivity is typically represented by the Greek letter sigma (σ) and is measured in units of Siemens per meter (S/m) or Siemens per centimeter (S/cm). The higher the conductivity, the better the material is at conducting electric current. Conductivity is influenced by various factors such as the nature of the material, its temperature, and any impurities or other factors present. In general, metals have high conductivity, while insulators have low conductivity.
In summary, conductance refers to the ease with which current flows through a specific object or material, while conductivity refers to the intrinsic ability of a material to conduct electric current. Conductance is dependent on both the material's conductivity and its physical dimensions, while conductivity is an inherent property of the material itself.