Testing Electrical Conductivity of Materials

What you will need:

• 1 bulb/lamp in holder

• 3 connecting wires

• 2 crocodile clips

• Battery

• Range of materials to test

Attach your equipment to the mat using masking tape. Follow the instructions and record your results
into the table provided.

You might find that your wires are longer than those shown on the mat – do not cut your wires to size,
just place them as close as possible to the guide lines.

What you need to do:

• Test each of your materials in turn by placing them in the space shown on the mat and attaching
the wires to each side to make a circuit.

Making observations:
• If the bulb lights up, then the material is a conductor. This means that the material is allowing the
current to flow through it. Conductors have a low resistance.

• If the bulb does not light up, then the material is an insulator. This means that the material is
stopping the current from flowing through it. Insulators have a high resistance.

Recording results:
• Complete the table provided to record the data from your investigation. Write down the name of the
material you are testing and tick whether it is a conductor or an insulator.

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 Testing Electrical Conductivity of Materials

Material Conductor Insulator

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 Testing Electrical Conductivity of Materials

Connecting Wire 1
Connecting Wire 2

Connecting Wire 3
Test Material

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