3.1.9

Conductors vs Insulators

Test yourself

Electrical Conductors and Insulators

Some materials conduct electricity and others do not.

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Electrical conductors

  • An electrical conductor is a material that allows electric currents (flow of electric charges) to pass through it.
    • All metals are electrical conductors.
  • An electrical conductor has lots of charges that are free to move.
  • In a metal, the charges that are free to move are electrons.
  • The electric current through the metal is the flow of these free electrons.
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Electrical insulators

  • An electrical insulator is a material that doesn’t allow electric currents (flow of electric charges) to pass through it.
    • Plastic and glass are electrical insulators.
  • An electrical insulator has no free electrons.
  • No charges are free to move and carry a current.

Jump to other topics

1Biology

1.1Cells, Tissues & Organs

1.2Reproduction & Variation

1.3Ecological Relationships & Classification

1.4Digestion & Nutrition

1.5Plants & Photosynthesis

1.6Biological Systems & Processes

2Chemistry

2.1Particles

2.2Chemical Reactions

2.3Atoms, Elements, Compounds

2.4The Periodic Table

2.5Materials & the Earth

2.6Reactivity

2.7Energetics

2.8Properties of Materials

3Physics

3.1Energy

3.2Forces & Motion

3.3Waves

3.4Electricity & Magnetism

3.5Matter

3.6Space Physics

4Thinking Scientifically

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