Susceptibility

In physics the susceptibility is a quantification for the change of an extensive property under variation of an intensive property. The word may refer to:

• In physics, the susceptibility of a material or substance describes its response to an applied field. For example:
  • Magnetic susceptibility
  • Electric susceptibility
• The two types of susceptibility above are examples of a linear response function; sometimes the terms susceptibility and linear response function are used interchangeably.
• In electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), susceptibility is the sensitivity of a device's function to incoming electromagnetic interference

• In epidemiology, a susceptible individual is a member of a population who is at risk of becoming infected by a disease
• In microbiology, pharmacology, and medicine drug susceptibility is the ability of a microorganism to be inhibited or killed by the drug, as in antibiotic susceptibility, the susceptibility of microorganisms to antibiotics (often used synonymously with the lay term sensitivity)

• Susceptibility to pathogens is the extent to which a plant, vegetation complex, or ecological community would suffer from a pathogen if exposed, without regard to the likelihood of exposure – the opposite of Plant disease resistance
  • It should not be confused with vulnerability, which by convention in this field takes into account both the effect of exposure and the likelihood of exposure

• The vulnerability of a target audience to particular forms of psychological warfare

• Vulnerability