Conductors are materials or substances that allow electricity to flow through them. They are capable of conducting electricity because they allow electrons to flow very easily inside them. Conductors have this quality of permit the transition of heat or light from one origin to another.
Metal, humans, earth and animal body are all conductors. This is why we get electric shocks! The main reason is that being a good conductor, our human body allows a resistance-free path for current resistance to move from wire to our body.
Conductors have free electrons on its surface that allow current to pass through. This is why conductors are capable of conducting electricity.
In this article, you will learn:-
Electrical conductors are materials that conduct electricity. While insulators do not. How it works is whether a substance conducts electricity or not. It depends on how electrons can easily move through it. For example, protons do not move, because they carry an electric charge, those molecules are bound to other protons and neutrons in the nucleus. Valence electrons are like outer planets. Those who revolve around a star. They are attracted enough to remain in position, but it does not always take too much energy to move from one place to another. Metals easily lose and gain electrons. Therefore they top the list of conductors.
Some materials in pure form are insulators, but will conduct if doped with small amounts of another element or if they are impurities. For example, most ceramics are excellent insulators, but if you dope them, you can make superconductors. Pure water is an insulator, while dirty water operates weakly and saltwater - well with its free-floating ions.
Silver is the best conductor of electricity because it has a large number of movable atoms (free electrons). For a material to be a good conductor, the electric electrons passed through it must be able to move; The more free electrons in a metal, the higher its conductivity. However, silver is more expensive than other materials and is not commonly used unless it is required for special equipment such as satellites or circuit boards. Copper is less conductive than silver but is cheaper and commonly used as an effective conductor in home appliances. Most wires are copper-plated and electromagnet cores are usually wrapped with copper wire. Copper is also easy to solder and wrap in wires, so it is often used when a large amount of conductive material is recycled.
Copper, gold, aluminum, silver, steel and brass are general conductors of electricity. While both silver and gold are effective, they are very expensive for common use. Personal qualities make each ideal for specific purposes.
Aluminum, when compared to unit loads, is actually more conductive than copper and costs less. Aluminium material is used in household products or in wiring but is not a common option as it has many structural defects. For example, aluminium has a tendency to form an electrically resistant oxide surface in an electrical connection, which may cause the connection to overheat. Instead aluminum is used for high-voltage transmission lines (such as overhead phone cables) that can be enclosed in steel for added protection.
Metal, humans, earth and animal body are all conductors. This is why we get electric shocks! The main reason is that being a good conductor, our human body allows a resistance-free path for current resistance to move from wire to our body.
Conductors have free electrons on its surface that allow current to pass through. This is why conductors are capable of conducting electricity.
In this article, you will learn:-
- Conductors vs. Insulators
- Some examples of Electrical Conductors
Conductors vs. Insulators
Electrical conductors are materials that conduct electricity. While insulators do not. How it works is whether a substance conducts electricity or not. It depends on how electrons can easily move through it. For example, protons do not move, because they carry an electric charge, those molecules are bound to other protons and neutrons in the nucleus. Valence electrons are like outer planets. Those who revolve around a star. They are attracted enough to remain in position, but it does not always take too much energy to move from one place to another. Metals easily lose and gain electrons. Therefore they top the list of conductors.
What is Voltage in simple words?
Organic molecules are mostly insulators, in part because they are held by covalent (shared electron) bonds and also because the hydrogen bond helps stabilize many molecules. Most materials are neither good conductors. Nor good insulators. They do not conduct easily, but if sufficient energy is supplied, the electrons will be transferred.
Some materials in pure form are insulators, but will conduct if doped with small amounts of another element or if they are impurities. For example, most ceramics are excellent insulators, but if you dope them, you can make superconductors. Pure water is an insulator, while dirty water operates weakly and saltwater - well with its free-floating ions.
Some examples of Electrical Conductors
Silver is the best conductor of electricity because it has a large number of movable atoms (free electrons). For a material to be a good conductor, the electric electrons passed through it must be able to move; The more free electrons in a metal, the higher its conductivity. However, silver is more expensive than other materials and is not commonly used unless it is required for special equipment such as satellites or circuit boards. Copper is less conductive than silver but is cheaper and commonly used as an effective conductor in home appliances. Most wires are copper-plated and electromagnet cores are usually wrapped with copper wire. Copper is also easy to solder and wrap in wires, so it is often used when a large amount of conductive material is recycled.
Copper, gold, aluminum, silver, steel and brass are general conductors of electricity. While both silver and gold are effective, they are very expensive for common use. Personal qualities make each ideal for specific purposes.
Aluminum, when compared to unit loads, is actually more conductive than copper and costs less. Aluminium material is used in household products or in wiring but is not a common option as it has many structural defects. For example, aluminium has a tendency to form an electrically resistant oxide surface in an electrical connection, which may cause the connection to overheat. Instead aluminum is used for high-voltage transmission lines (such as overhead phone cables) that can be enclosed in steel for added protection.
