Question: On the basis of electrical conductivity, which one of the following material has the smallest resistivity?
A) Germanium
B) Silver
C) Glass
D) Silicon
Answer: Silver
Sol:
Electrical conductivity is a measure of a material’s ability to conduct an electric current. The higher the conductivity, the lower the resistivity. So, if we are looking for the material with the smallest resistivity, we are looking for the material with the highest electrical conductivity. Among the options given, silver (Option B) is known to have the highest electrical conductivity and thus, the smallest resistivity. Germanium (Option A) and silicon (Option D) are semiconductors, meaning they have moderate conductivity that can be manipulated, while glass (Option C) is generally a poor conductor, or an insulator. Therefore, silver is the correct answer.
