Republic of the Philippines

Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
(UNIVERSITY OF CABUYAO)
Katapatan Subd. Brgy. Banay-banay, City of Cabuyao, Laguna

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

LABORATORY EXPERIMENT No. 1

Conductor vs Insulator: Circuit Testing

Group 1

Date: November 22, 2023

Group Members
Alcoran, James
Alinsunurin, Hector
Almazan, Franz Aaron
Asico, John Lester
Balane, Ellezer Jay

ENGR. JUANCHO G. ARAGON

Laboratory Instructor
 Republic of the Philippines
Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
(UNIVERSITY OF CABUYAO)
Katapatan Subd. Brgy. Banay-banay, City of Cabuyao, Laguna

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

I. INTRODUCTION

Do you ever wonder why your appliances doesn’t shock you when you plug it in? Or why
some material can light up a bulb and others cannot? These might seems like a pure common
sense. But there is a more and deeper science behind that. The world of electricity is filled with
mysteries. In this laboratory report we are going to introduced the conductor and insulator that
quietly shape our technology. Get ready because this is where the battle between conductor and
insulator begins.

Before diving deeper to the world of conductor and insulator, lets first define some terms
that is relevant to the topic. The world of electricity has two distinct material, that is conductor
and insulator. Conductor are metals that allows the flow of electron without disturbance. An
example of this is the copper wire or any metals. While insulator is the opposite of conductor
because it restrict the flow of electrons. An example of this is the plastic cover of wire. This two
distinct material play a role in circuitry and function. Engineers utilized this to improve the
system of the circuit and its performance. Appropriate material ensure that the circuit prevent
unwanted consequences such as short circuit and electrical hazard.

Understanding the principle of conductor and insulator is not merely an academic

requirement. It is the key for the efficiency, safety, and performance of electrical systems. The
result of our experiment will lead to practical applications in the development of safer and more
efficient electronic devices. As a students, the understood principle of this topic can become
handy in the future. For example, a students accidentally pour the water on the plug of extension
wire making contact with the electricity flowing with it. The conscious mind will tell that if
touch that water you will be electrocuted, therefore preventing you from touching it. That is
because water is basically a conductor.

To sum that up, understanding conductors and insulators is like having a superpower for
dealing with electricity. It is the key to make sure our gadgets work well and don't give us a
shock. In our experiment, we explored how materials like metal (conductors) and plastic
(insulators) play important roles in making sure electrical appliance runs smoothly. Engineers
use this knowledge to keep circuits safe and working right. So, the next time you accidentally
spill water near an electrical plug, your brain will tell you that "you will be electrocuted when
you touch that" reminding you not to touch it, because water conducts electricity.
 Republic of the Philippines
Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
(UNIVERSITY OF CABUYAO)
Katapatan Subd. Brgy. Banay-banay, City of Cabuyao, Laguna

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

II. OBJECTIVES

The group's primary goals for this experiment are:

1. Observe the effects of conductors and insulators on electric circuits

2. To design and conduct experiments to test the conductivity of different materials
3. To apply their understanding of conductors and insulators to real-world situations

III. LABORATORY DESCRIPTION

This section delves into the materials employed, outlines the procedural steps, and
provides additional insights into the laboratory report.

a) Material
The following are the utilized material:

i. Battery
ii. 2 Insulated wires
iii. Light bulb
iv. 3 Conductors
1. Salt and water
2. Copper
3. Metal spoon
v. 3 Insulators
1. Wood
2. Rubber
3. Glass

b) Procedure
To ensure the flow and organized of the experiment, the following procedure are
utilized:

1. Connect one end of each wire to the battery terminals, ensuring sufficient length to reach all
conductors and insulators.
2. Connect one end of a wire to the light bulb.
3. Touch the free end of the wire to each conductor (salt and water solution, copper, metal spoon)
individually.
 Republic of the Philippines
Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
(UNIVERSITY OF CABUYAO)
Katapatan Subd. Brgy. Banay-banay, City of Cabuyao, Laguna

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
3. Observe and record if the light bulb illuminates.
4. Repeat the process for each insulator (wood, rubber, glass).
5. Observe and record if the light bulb remains unlit.

c) Additional Note

 The salt and water solution is an example of an electrolytic conductor. This means
that the charged particles in the solution can move freely and conduct an electric
current.
 Copper is a good conductor of electricity because it has a large number of free
electrons that can move easily.
 A metal spoon is a good conductor of electricity because it is made of metal, which
is a good conductor of both heat and electricity.
 Wood and rubber are both good insulators of electricity. This means that they do
not allow electrons to move freely, so they cannot conduct electricity.

IV. RESULT

The experiment was conducted to observe the effects of conductors and insulators on
electric circuits. The materials used included a battery, insulated wires, a light bulb, and various
conductors and insulators. The conductors tested were a salt and water solution, copper, and a
metal spoon. The insulators tested were wood, rubber, and glass.

Conductor

1. Salt and Water Solution: When the wire touched the salt and water solution, the light bulb
illuminated, indicating that the solution acted as a conductor. This result aligns with the
understanding that electrolytic conductors, such as saltwater, allow charged particles to move
freely, facilitating the conduction of an electric current.

2. Copper: Similar to the salt and water solution, when the wire came into contact with copper,
the light bulb lit up. This result is consistent with the known property of copper as a good
conductor of electricity due to its large number of free electrons that can move easily.

3. Metal Spoon: As expected, the metal spoon, being made of metal, demonstrated conductivity.
When the wire touched the metal spoon, the light bulb illuminated, confirming that metals are
good conductors of both heat and electricity.
 Republic of the Philippines
Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
(UNIVERSITY OF CABUYAO)
Katapatan Subd. Brgy. Banay-banay, City of Cabuyao, Laguna

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Insulator

1. Wood: When the wire touched wood, the light bulb did not light up, indicating that wood acts
as an insulator. Insulators like wood do not allow electrons to move freely, preventing the
conduction of electricity.

2. Rubber: Similarly, when the wire touched rubber, the light bulb remained unlit. Rubber,
known for its insulating properties, restricts the movement of electrons and does not conduct
electricity.

3. Glass: When the wire made contact with glass, the light bulb did not illuminate. This result
aligns with the expectation that glass, like other insulators, does not permit the free movement of
electrons.

The observed results demonstrate the fundamental distinction between conductors and
insulators. Conductors facilitate the flow of electrons, leading to the illumination of the light
bulb, whereas insulators impede electron movement, preventing the completion of the circuit.

Additionally, there is a chemical reaction going on inside the battery in our experiment with
wire, battery, and bulb. Electrons that are negatively charged are released as a result of this
reaction and leave the battery through the negative terminal. After finishing their journey through
the circuit, the electrons will reach the positive terminal of the battery once more. Electrons from
the battery will travel through a wire that comes into touch with it, pass through a bulb, and then
back into the battery. A full circuit is created by the path.

Lastly, to answer the question “ Why salt water react as a conductor?”. This is because
when you mix water and salt sodium and chlorine ions are created as a result, which makes the
saltwater circuit function. Because one of its electrons is absent, the sodium ion is positive. The
additional electron that gives the chlorine ion its negative charge. An electric potential attracts
negatively charged chlorine ions to the positive pole and positively charged sodium ions to the
negative pole. The electricity travels through the water due to these ions. Electrons can go from
ion to ion across the water because of the formation of a "invisible wire" in the mechanism.
 Republic of the Philippines
Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
(UNIVERSITY OF CABUYAO)
Katapatan Subd. Brgy. Banay-banay, City of Cabuyao, Laguna

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
V. CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the experiment successfully explored the conductive and insulating

properties of various materials. We tested different materials to see which ones allow electricity
to flow through (conductors) and which ones don't (insulators). This knowledge is not only
crucial for academic purposes but also holds practical implications for the development of safer
and more efficient electronic devices.

We found that things like saltwater and copper are conductors because they let electricity
move easily, lighting up our bulb. On the other hand, materials like wood, rubber, and glass are
insulators. They stop the flow of electricity, so the bulb doesn't light up when we touch them
with the wire. The experiments also showed us that inside the battery, a chemical reaction
happens, releasing electrons. These electrons travel through the wire, light up the bulb, and then
go back into the battery, completing a loop.The saltwater experiment was especially interesting.
When we mixed salt with water, it created ions (like tiny particles) that formed an "invisible
wire," allowing electricity to pass through. This highlighted how chemical reactions can play a
role in making things conductive.

In the end, understanding conductors and insulators is like having a special power to deal
with electricity. Engineers use this knowledge to make sure our gadgets work well and don't give
us a shock. So, the next time you wonder why your appliances don't shock you, remember it's all
about the science of conductors and insulators, keeping our electrical systems safe and efficient.
 Republic of the Philippines
Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
(UNIVERSITY OF CABUYAO)
Katapatan Subd. Brgy. Banay-banay, City of Cabuyao, Laguna

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
VI. APPENDIX

a) Documentation

The following pictures are the compile picture taken throughout the experiment:

b) References

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Conductor. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved November

21, 2023, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conductor

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Insulator. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved November

21, 2023, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insulator
 Republic of the Philippines
Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
(UNIVERSITY OF CABUYAO)
Katapatan Subd. Brgy. Banay-banay, City of Cabuyao, Laguna

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Ling, S. J., Sanny, J., & Moebs, W. (2016). University Physics Volume 2 (Vol. 2) [Ebook].

OpenStax.

Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. (2016). Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern

Physics (10th ed.) [Ebook]. Cengage Learning.

https://studylib.net/doc/26988546/serway--- physics-for-scientists-and-engineers-with-modern?