Conductors

In a conductor, electrons are bound very loosely and are free to move around. These so-called free electrons can move freely through the material and respond to nearby positive and negative charges.

Conductors have low resistance and transfer electric current well.

Metals are generally good conductors, the best of which are:

1. silver

2. copper

3. gold

4. aluminum

conductor

Conductivity is the measure of the ease at which an electric charge or heat can pass through a material and gives very little resistance to the flow of an electric current or thermal energy.

Materials are classified as conductors(metal) and semiconductors.

Semiconductors

Semiconductors have a small number of free electrons available and pass a limited amount of electrical current.

Semiconductors are extremely important in modern electronics because they can be used to control the amount of current in an electrical system.

Semiconductors can be “doped” or mixed with different types of materials to change their conductive properties.

Some semiconductor materials , shown in order below, include silicon, graphite, germanium, and gallium arsenide phosiphide seen as the little plates inside the clear plastic LED.

Different forms of gallium arsenide phospide glow red, orange, or yellow when a current passes through them, making the substance widely used in older light-emitting diodes.

• Solar cells

• Transistors

• Diodes, like LEDs

• Microprocessor Chips which run your computer.

Electrical conductor

Electrical conductors are materials that allow electricity to flow through them easily.

The property of conductors is called conductivity and the conducting material allows charge transfer easily.

The following are good conductors of electricity :

Gold

Silver

Copper

Aluminium

Graphite

Platinum

Water

Pure water is not a good conductor of electricity. Distilled/pure water does not contain impurities i.e. no ions.

Electric current is carried by the ions in the solution i.e. when the concentration of ions increases the conductivity increases.

Pure water contains only neutral water molecules and these neutral molecules do not have charge so distilled water does not conduct electricity.

Other example of milk which is a good conductor of electricity because it contains water and lactic acids and other salts.

Properties of electrical conductor

1. The movement of electrons and ions are permitted, allowing electrons to pass inside it.

2. Free charges occur on the surface of the conductor.

3. Conductor's charge density and electrical field is zero .

4. Potential is same at Both ends of a conductor.

5. Some metals are strong conductors of electricity.

Applications of conductors

1. Thermometer to check the temperature of the body (mercury is a common material in the thermometer).

2. Aluminium used in the manufacture of foils for food preservation and in cooking vessels as it is a good conductor of electricity and heat.

3. Iron used to conduct heat in vehicle engine manufacturing. (The iron plate is composed of steel to briskly absorb heat).

4. Radiators used in car (use in the eradication of heat away from the engine).

Difference between good and bad conductors

Good conductors are the materials which allow electricity or heat to pass through them easily whereas bad conductors are the materials which do not allow electricity or heat to pass through them.