Conductors & Insulators

Conductors

Conductors allow electricity to pass through them.  They have a low internal resistance.  Good conductors include:-

  • Metals - especially gold, copper, brass, aluminium, and mercury

  • Carbon

Poor electrical conductors include:-

  • Water (depends on purity - pure water is an insulator whilst impure water can be an excellent conductor)

  • Earth (which usually contains water)

Insulators

Insulators are materials that do not allow electricity to pass through them.  They have a high internal resistance.   Insulators include:-

  • Rubber - natural and synthetic

  • Timber - pine, oak and grey gum

  • Plastics - polystyrene, PVC, and cellulose acetate

  • Glass

  • Dry Air

Semi Conductors

Semi conductors are unusual materials in that they are conductors in some situations and insulators in others. Semi conductors are very important in modern electronics as they are used in semi conducting electrical components such as integrated circuits.  Semi conductors include:-

  • Silicon

  • Germanium
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14 April, 2000