Conductors vs Insulators
Science: KS3, topic 3.1.9
Electrical Conductors and Insulators
Some materials conduct electricity and others do not.
Electrical conductors
- An electrical conductor is a material that lets electric currents pass through it.
- Electric currents are the flow of electric charges.
- All metals are electrical conductors.
Free electrons in conductors
- An electrical conductor has lots of charges that are free to move.
- In a metal, the free charges are electrons.
- The electric current through the metal is the flow of the free electrons.
Electrical insulators
- An electrical insulator is a material that doesn’t let electric currents pass through it.
- Electric currents are the flow of electric charges.
- Plastic and glass are electrical insulators.
Free electrons in insulators
- An electrical insulator has no free electrons.
- No charges are free to move and carry a current.
Test yourself on Conductors vs Insulators
Which of these materials is an electrical insulator?
What is an electric current?
Which of these statements about conductors and insulators are true?
Why can metals conduct an electric current?