SNC1D
PHYSICS
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ELECTRICITY
L Insulators & Conductors
(P.400-401)
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Electrical Insulators
Materials that hold onto their electrons and do not allow them to move
easily are called electrical insulators. This is because the electrons () are
bound tightly to the nuclei (+). An electrical insulator is a solid, liquid, or
gas that resists or blocks the movement of electrons. Dry wood, glass, and
plastic are all examples of electrical insulators. An insulator can hold a
static charge because the static charges remain nearly fixed in place.
Electrical Insulators
INSULATOR
material that resists or blocks the movement of electrons
can hold a static charge (since the charges are unable to move)
plastic, glass, rubber, pure water, dry air,
Electrical Conductors
Materials that allow electrons to change positions are called conductors.
In this case the electrons () are not as tightly bound to the nuclei (+) and
so they can move away from the nuclei. Metals such as copper are
considered good conductors since they hold their outer electrons loosely.
So metals, in general, are good conductors of electricity. Other common
metal conductors are aluminum, silver, and gold.
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Electrical Conductors
CONDUCTOR
material that allows electrons to change position easily
most metals, tap water (contains minerals), moist air,
Insulator or Conductor?
You may have noticed that your hair does not stick to your hat on wet,
humid days. In humid air, water molecules have more opportunity to
bump into nearby objects. During these bumps, water molecules are
able to transfer electrons from negatively charged objects to positively
charged objects. As a result, charged objects tend to lose their charge
quickly in humid weather.
Insulator or Conductor?
However, in dry weather, there are fewer water molecules in the air, so
charged objects are less likely to lose charge by bumping into water
molecules. So the charged objects stay charged in dry weather, making
your hair more prone to static electricity.
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Fair Conductors
Insulators
copper
rubber
aluminum
moist air
wood
iron
human body
plastic
mercury
carbon
pure water
other metals
soil
Conductors
Fair Conductors
Insulators
copper
rubber
aluminum
moist air
wood
iron
human body
plastic
mercury
carbon
pure water
other metals
soil
10
Fair Conductors
Insulators
copper
rubber
aluminum
moist air
wood
iron
human body
plastic
mercury
carbon
pure water
other metals
soil
11
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