The ability for a material to transfer heat or electricity is called what?

• A. Conductivity
• B. Resistivity
• C. Hardness
• D. Machinability

Answer: (A)

Conductivity is the property that describes how readily energy can move through a material. For electricity, high conductivity means electrons can flow easily, making a good conductor. For heat, high thermal conductivity means heat passes through quickly. Materials like copper and aluminum are known for their high conductivity, which is why they’re used in electrical wiring and heat exchangers. Resistivity, the opposite of conductivity, describes how strongly a material resists flow. Hardness and machinability describe other material traits—how resistant a material is to scratching or deformation, and how easy it is to machine, respectively. So the term that captures the ability to transfer both heat and electricity is conductivity.