Conductor and insulators
Conductors
Conductors are materials that permit electrons to flow freely from particle to particle.
An object made of a conducting material will permit charge to be transferred across the entire surface of the object.
If charge is transferred to the object at a given location, that charge is quickly distributed across the entire surface of the object.
The distribution of charge is the result of electron movement. Since conductors allow for electrons to be transported from particle to particle, a charged object will always distribute its charge until the overall repulsive forces between excess electrons is minimized.
If a charged conductor is touched to another object, the conductor can even transfer its charge to that object.
The transfer of charge between objects occurs more readily if the second object is made of a conducting material. Conductors allow for charge transfer through the free movement of electrons.
The top three conducting materials are silver, copper and aluminum. The silver is the best conductor of electricity because it is costly material therefore not used widely, it is used for special equipment like satellites.
The iron is a good conductor. It consists of metallic bond, where electrons are free to move around more than one atom.
Insulators
are materials that impede the free flow of electrons from atom to atom and molecule to molecule.
If charge is transferred to an insulator at a given location, the excess charge will remain at the initial location of charging.
The particles of the insulator do not permit the free flow of electrons; subsequently charge is seldom distributed evenly across the surface of an insulator.
The electrical insulators are used to hold conductors in position, isolating them from each other and from surrounding structures.
They form a barrier between the energized parts of an electrical circuit and limit the flow of current to wires or other conducting paths as desired.
The plastic, rubber, wood, and ceramics are good insulators.
Difference between conductor and insulator
The conductors allows current to flow easily through it. The insulators do not allow current to flow through it.
The electric charge exists on the surface of conductors. The electric charges are absent in insulators.
The Conductors do not store energy when kept in a magnetic field. The insulators may store energy when kept in a magnetic field.
Use of conductors in making of electrical equipment. The use of insulators in insulating electrical equipment for safety purpose.
Types of insulators used in overhead transmission lines
Pin insulators.
Strain Insulators.
Stay Insulators.
Shackle Insulators.
Suspension insulators.
Types of the electrical conductors
Good conductors.
Semiconductors.
Resistors and
Non-conductors.
** The non-conductors are also known as insulators **
| Good Conductors | Fair Conductors | Non-conductors (Insulators) |
|---|---|---|
| Silver, Copper, Gold, Aluminum, Magnesium, Tungsten, Nickel, Iron, Platinum and Mercury | Carbon, Acid solutions, Salt water, Earth, Human body, | Fur, Silk, Wool, Rubber, Plastic, glass, Oil, Paper and Wax |