Conductors and insulators

A conductor

• Is usually a metal

• Conducts heat

• Can be a copper wire

• All of the above

An insulator

• Is usually a metal

• Opposes electrical current meaning electric charges do not flow freely

• Conducts electrical current very easily

• Works by electrons jumping from atom to atom through a wire

The best insulators are

• Plastic, rubber, wood, glass

• Silver, air, paper, silicon

• Copper, aluminium, gold, steel

• Ceramic, fabric, paper clip, cork

Attached to this electrical circuit is copper. Copper is a conductor of electricity therefore the bulb should

• Glow a lot brighter

• Turn off immediately

• Instantly get very hot, then cool down quickly

• Be dimmer

What is the conductor in the picture?

• Light bulb

• Battery

• Wires

• Switch

In an open circuit, a light bulb would

• Still glow because the wires can repel electricity

• Remain switched off because there is a gap in the circuit

• Remain switched off unless the voltage on a power pack was turned up to the maximum

• Fracture due to the pressure of the electricity in the wires

Electricity passes through a conductor because

• The voltage is up high enough on a power pack/battery

• Of the bound outer electrons which don't move from atom to atom

• Of the free outer electrons which move from atom to atom

• The nuclei are negatively charged meaning their movement through a wire generates current

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS3-5

Why are the poles of a power line in our street made of wood?

• Wood is a conductor- they stop electrical current from the power lines hitting the ground

• So that during thunderstorms in winter, there isn't as much electrical current in the power line

• Because electrons can move faster through wood compared to any other material

• Wood is an insulator- they stop electrical current from the power lines hitting the ground

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-3

I set up a circuit as shown. Suppose I then attach a rubber tube with two alligator clips. What happens?

• The light bulb will turn on, but the ammeter will give a reading of 0 A

• The light bulb will not turn on and the ammeter will show a reading of 0 A because rubber is an insulator

• The light bulb will turn on and the ammeter will show a reading because rubber is a conductor

• The light bulb will not turn on, but the ammeter will not give a reading

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-3

A conductor

• Doesn't allow electricity to pass through it

• Only conducts electricity in an open circuit

• Does not light up a bulb if attached to a circuit

• Allows electricity to pass through it