Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which of the following best describes the primary difference between conductors and insulators?
Which of the following best describes the primary difference between conductors and insulators?
- Conductors are used in high-voltage applications, while insulators are used in low-voltage applications.
- Conductors are always metals, while insulators are always non-metals.
- Conductors inhibit the movement of electrons, while insulators allow it easily.
- Conductors allow the movement of electrons easily, while insulators inhibit or prevent it. (correct)
Pure water is a good conductor of electricity because of the presence of ions.
Pure water is a good conductor of electricity because of the presence of ions.
False (B)
Explain how a laser printer utilizes both conductors and insulators in its operation.
Explain how a laser printer utilizes both conductors and insulators in its operation.
A laser printer uses a photoconductive drum that acts as an insulator until exposed to light, at which point it becomes a conductor, selectively attracting toner particles. Insulators are also used to protect the wires.
Materials that allow electrons to move through them easily are called ______.
Materials that allow electrons to move through them easily are called ______.
Match the following materials with their classification as conductors or insulators:
Match the following materials with their classification as conductors or insulators:
Why is touching an electrical appliance near water dangerous?
Why is touching an electrical appliance near water dangerous?
Superconductors lose energy as thermal energy when conducting electricity.
Superconductors lose energy as thermal energy when conducting electricity.
Explain why electricians use screwdrivers with thick rubber handles.
Explain why electricians use screwdrivers with thick rubber handles.
A ______ is a special class of conductor that conducts electrons only when light shines on it.
A ______ is a special class of conductor that conducts electrons only when light shines on it.
Which of the following is a primary reason for using insulators in electrical wiring?
Which of the following is a primary reason for using insulators in electrical wiring?
Flashcards
Conductor
Conductor
A material that allows electrons to move easily through it.
Insulator
Insulator
A material that inhibits or prevents the movement of electrons.
Superconductors
Superconductors
Conductors that, when cooled below a critical temperature, conduct electricity without losing energy.
Good Conductors
Good Conductors
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Fair Conductors
Fair Conductors
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Semiconductors
Semiconductors
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Conductivity
Conductivity
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Insulators
Insulators
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Photoconductor
Photoconductor
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Study Notes
- Conductors allow the movement of electrons.
- Insulators inhibit or prevent the movement of electrons.
- Both conductors and insulators have practical uses.
Superconductors
- Some conductors, when cooled below a critical temperature, conduct electricity without losing energy.
- Superconductors are essential in high-speed computers.
- Modern superconductors work best at -150°C, however chilling these devices is costly.
- Researchers are developing a room temperature superconductor.
Conductors
- Good conductors allow electrons to move through them easily.
- Fair conductors allow electrons to move through them with a small amount of difficulty.
- Metals like copper and aluminum are common conductors used in electrical wiring.
- Graphite is a reasonably good conductor.
- Graphite and silicon are examples of semiconductors; these permit electron movement, but not as easily as good conductors.
- Salt water is listed as a fair conductor because it contains ions that pass through the water easily.
- Pure water is non-conductive because it has no ions.
- Tap water contains minerals and ions and is a fair conductor of water.
Insulators
- They are used to safely use electricity
- Electrons are tightly bound and unable to move freely
- Common insulators include plastic, wood, glass, and ebonite.
- From about 1880 to the 1930s, copper wires were run through homes using protective porcelain insulating tubes and knob insulators.
- Electrical wires today are coated with an insulating material, such as plastic.
Using Conductors and Insulators
- Technologies such as lightning rods and automobile frames are made of conducting materials.
- Glass has been used as an insulator in telegraph wiring since the 1800s.
- The telecommunications industry uses teflon and silicon dioxide as electrical insulators.
- A laser printer relies on both conductors and insulators.
Laser Printers
- Laser printers use conductors and insulators, as well as the Law of Electric Charges, to work.
- A laser printer consists of a drum made of a positively charged photoconductor.
- When a light shines on a photoconductor it conducts electricity.
- If no light shines on it, it remains an insulator.
- Laser light "draws" the image on a positively charged selenium drum, making areas negatively charged.
- The drum rolls across positively charged toner particles, which stick to the negatively charged areas on the drum.
- The drum rolls across paper with a relatively higher negative charge, enabling the toner particles to "stick" to the paper.
- The paper passes through a fuser that melts the toner particles onto the paper at temperatures over 200 °C.
- A fan keeps the area around the fuser cool.
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Description
Learn about conductors, insulators, and superconductors. Explore how these materials affect electron movement and their various applications. Investigate the practical uses of conductors and insulators.
