Objectives

 Distinguish between
 Differentiate
conductors and insulators between electron
 State that an electric flow and
current in a metal conventional
consists of a flow of
electrons
current
 State the unit of
electrical current

Conductors
Conductors are materials
through which electrical
charges can flow freely.
 Metals contain free
electrons which have
broken away from their
atomic orbits and are not
bound to any particular
atom
 Graphite (a non-metal) is
a good conductor and is
widely used for ‘make and
break ’contacts in
electrical circuits. As in
metals, the mobile free
charges are electrons.
 Solutions of electronic
substances ,as well as
molten ionic
substances ,have mobile
positive and negative ions,
which move in opposite
directions when connected
in an electrical circuit.
Examples of Conductor
Good Conductors
1. silver
2. gold
3. copper
4. aluminum
5. graphite
Semi-conductors: silicon
and germanium
Current
Insulators Current is the rate of flow charge
Insulators are materials in I = Q where as
which electrical charges do t
not flow freely. I = current, Q= charge, t=time.
Conventional current is in the direction in
 Non- metallic solids
which a positive charge would move if free to
are usually good
do so. It is the direction of the electric field.
insulators, because
most of them do not
Electron flow is the flow of negative charge
contain free charges.
and is therefore opposite the direction of
 Semi-conductors are conventional flow.
a class of materials
which conductivity in
a range between that
of good conductors
and good insulators.
Examples of Insulator
1. glass Current Electricity
2. mica is being defined as
the movements of
3. quartz flow of electrons in
4. rubber a closed by circuit
5. plastic by conductors. The
unit od current is
Ampere (A)