Skin Depth Formula
The Skin Depth conversion calculator uses the formula:
δ = √(ρ / (π × f × μ₀ × μr))
Formula Explanation
This formula calculates the skin depth δ, which represents the depth at which electromagnetic waves penetrate a conductor. Here, ρ is the resistivity of the material in ohm-meters, f is the frequency in hertz, μ₀ is the permeability of free space, and μr is the relative permeability of the material. The skin depth decreases with increasing frequency or higher conductivity materials.
Uses of Skin Depth conversion calculator
The Skin Depth conversion calculator is valuable in:
- Designing high-frequency PCB traces and ensuring proper current distribution.
- Determining conductor thickness requirements for RF components.
- Analyzing electromagnetic shielding effectiveness in circuits.
- Estimating power losses in conductors at different frequencies.
- Educational demonstrations for physics and electrical engineering studies.
Formula Example
Suppose we have Copper with ρ = 1.678 μΩ·cm, μr ≈ 1, and f = 1 GHz.
Convert ρ to ohm-m: 1.678 × 10⁻⁸ Ω·m
Using the formula:
δ = √(1.678 × 10⁻⁸ / (π × 1×10⁹ × 4π×10⁻⁷ × 1))
After calculation, δ ≈ 2.07 μm.
This indicates the depth at which current density drops to 1/e of its value at the surface for a copper conductor at 1 GHz.