We differentiate the elements around us based on their physical properties, such as malleability, phase, texture, colour, polarity, solubility, etc. But as we know, another very important classification of elements is done on the basis of their conductivity of electric charge, i.e. conductors and insulators.
If we perform a simple experiment with a battery and a small LED bulb, we will notice that when the electric circuit between the battery and the bulb is completed using a plastic or a cotton thread, the bulb doesn’t glow. Whereas if we perform the same experiment with the help of a metallic wire such as copper, the bulb starts to glow. This indicates that some of the elements enable the transfer of charge from the battery to the bulbs, while others do not. The basis of the classification of such elements is their electrical conductivity. Let us learn more about conductors and insulators in this comprehensive article.
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What Are Conductors?
In simple terms, an electrical conductor is defined as materials that allow electricity to flow through them easily. This property of conductors that allow them to conduct electricity is known as conductivity.
The flow of electrons in a conductor is known as the electric current. The force required to make that current flow through the conductor is known as voltage.
When a charge is transferred to such an element, it gets distributed across the entire surface of the object, which results in the movement of electrons in the object. The charges transferred to an electrical conductor distribute until the force of repulsion between electrons in areas of excess electrons is decreased to the minimum value. When such an object is brought in contact with another conductor, the charge gets transferred from the first conductor to the other until the overall repulsion due to charge is minimized.
Metals, humans, and earth are all conductors. This is the reason why we get electric shocks!
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Examples of conductor
Graphite, the human body, and the earth are good conductors of electricity. Some of the common conductor examples include metals such as:
- Copper
- Gold
- Iron
Read More: Electric Circuit
What Are Insulators?
Insulators are materials that hinder the free flow of electrons from one particle of the element to another. If we transfer some amount of charge to such an element at any point, the charge remains at the initial location and does not get distributed across the surface. The most common process of charging of such elements is charging by rubbing (for some elements, with the help of suitable materials).
Examples of insulators
Some of the common insulator examples are given below:
- Plastic
- Wood
- Glass
Differences between Conductor and Insulators
Some key conductor and insulator differences are given in the table below.
| Materials that permit electricity or heat to pass through it. | Materials that do not permit heat and electricity to pass through it. |
| A few examples of a conductor are silver, aluminium, and iron. | A few examples of an insulator are paper, wood, and rubber. |
| Electrons move freely within the conductor. | Electrons do not move freely within the insulator. |
| The electric field exists on the surface but remains zero on the inside. | The electric field doesn’t exist. |
Watch the video and learn more about conductors
Frequently Asked Questions on Conductors and Insulators Questions
Which of the following is the most conductive element?
1) Copper 2) Iron 3) Silicon 4) Silver
Silver is the most conductive element.
Why are metals a preferred choice of material for making electrical wires?
Metals are a preferred choice of material for making electrical wire because they are good conductors of electricity.
The material that has a resistance of zero is known as a _____.?
Superconductor
What is a semiconductor?
A semiconductor is a material whose electrical conductivity falls between that of a conductor and an insulator. Example, Germanium and Silicon
What is the purpose of lightning rods?
The purpose of a lightning rod is to protect structures from lightning damages by blocking the surges and guiding their currents to the ground.
Which are the factors that affect the resistivity of a conductor?
The resistivity of a conductor depends on
- Temperature
- The material with which the conductor is made of
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