Conductors and Insulators

Aside from the obvious fashion reasons, why do

people who work with electricity wear these boots?
 Date:
LI: To understand the concepts of conductors
and insulators.

Success Criteria
1. Knowledge: Differentiate between conductors and insulators.
2. Understanding: Explain why certain materials are better
conductors than others.
3. Applying: Demonstrate an understanding of how to use knowledge
of conductors and insulators for electrical safety.
 Fact of the Day
Hummingbirds are the only
birds that can fly
backwards, thanks to their
unique wing structure,
allowing them to hover and
move in any direction.
 Recap Questions
1. What is static electricity?
2. How do different electrical charges interact?
 Answers
1. Static electricity is the buildup of electric charge on the
surface of objects, caused by the transfer of electrons. It
can make objects attract or repel each other without
touching.
2. Different electrical charges interact based on a simple
principle: like charges repel each other, while opposite
charges attract. This means that two objects with the same
type of charge will push away from each other, and objects
with opposite charges will pull towards each other.
 Electricity
Atoms are made of protons and electrons.
Electrons are negatively charged particles, and the movement
of this negative charge is what we call electricity.
 Attraction and Repulsion
Objects with opposite charges attract, while
objects with the same charge repel each other.
 Conductors and Insulators
Conductors are materials that allow electricity to flow
through them easily, while insulators resist electric current.
 Conductors
Conductors, such as metals, have free electrons that
allow them to conduct electricity easily.
 Insulators
Insulators, such as rubber and plastic, have tightly bound
electrons which can’t move. They do not allow electric
current to pass through easily.
 Practical Applications
Conductors, such as copper
metal, are used in wires since
the electricity can easily flow
through them.
Plastic is a great insulator, so
electric cables have plastic
covers to stop you being
electrocuted.
 Induced Charges
Induced charges occur when a
charged object comes near a
neutral object, causing the
neutral object's electrons to
move, creating a region of
positive and negative charges
without direct contact.
This separation of charges
allows the neutral object to
experience a force of attraction
or repulsion towards the
charged object.
 Apparatus
Oldest Partner Youngest Partner
1. Battery 1. Wires
2. Light bulb 2. Various household materials
(metal spoon, plastic comb,
rubber band, paper clip).
 Method
Set up your investigation as shown
opposite.
It is very important that you always
make sure the power is off before you
make any changes to your experiment.
Try different materials and draw a
table to record your results. Record
the current, the brightness of the bulb,
type of material and whether it is a
conductor or an insulator.
 Writing Lab Reports
Write up a lab report for your investigation so that you could repeat this experiment.
Include the following sections:
• Title
• Aim
• Variables (Independent, Dependent, Control)
• Hypothesis
• Apparatus
• Diagram
• Method
• Results
• Conclusions
• Evaluations
 Extension Task
Research the role of semiconductors in modern
electronics. How do their properties differ from those
of conductors and insulators?
 Summary Questions
1. Why are electrical wires coated with plastic or rubber?
2. Explain, in terms of electrons, why copper metal is a good
conductor but plastic is a bad conductor.
 Answers
1. Electrical wires are coated with plastic or rubber because these
materials are insulators. Insulators prevent the electric current from
escaping the wire and protect against electrical shocks, ensuring
safety.
2. Copper metal is a good conductor because it has free electrons that
can easily move throughout the metal, allowing electricity to flow
through it efficiently. In contrast, plastic is a bad conductor because
its electrons are tightly bound within its molecules and cannot
move freely, preventing the flow of electric current.
 Key Terms
Attract: When two objects with opposite electric charges come together.
Charge: A property of matter that causes it to experience a force when near other electrically charged
matter.
Conductor: A material that allows electricity to flow through it easily.
Current: The flow of electric charge in a specific direction.
Electricity: A form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles.
Electrocuted: To injure or kill someone by electric shock.
Electron: A tiny particle in atoms with a negative electric charge.
Free Electron: An electron that is not attached to an atom and can move freely.
Induced: Caused by proximity to a charged object, leading to a movement of charges in a nearby
neutral object to create a positive and negatively charged side.
Insulator: A material that does not allow electricity to flow through it easily.
Repel: When two objects with the same type of electric charge push away from each other.
Resist: To oppose or slow down the flow of electricity.
 “Mr Luke, I Wasn’t Here When We Did This”

Conductors and Insulators [13:32]: https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgDIX2GOaxQ
Conductors and Non-Conductors [3:57]: https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8IFo7ykHuU
How Conductors Work [2:13]: https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LhUTgcGupk
Electrical Conductors and Insulators [2:31]: https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZjDMQbn3a0
 Test Your Knowledge
See how well you’ve mastered this lesson on
conductors and insulators by using the links below:
https://
www.gimkit.com/view/65f15df43f34c2002c50caed
 Success Criteria
Knowledge: Differentiate between conductors and insulators.

Understanding: Explain why certain materials are better

conductors than others.

Applying: Demonstrate an understanding of how to use

knowledge of conductors and insulators for electrical safety.
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