INSULATORS AND CONDUCTORS STATIC ELECTRICITY INSULATORS AND CONDUCTORS

Learning goals TODAY WE WILL… Review our exit question: how to make a ‘induced charge’ permanent Learn the definition of an insulator, conductor, and semi-conductor Identify some common insulators, conductors, and semi-conductors

The answer…

INSULATORS material wherein electrons cannot move easily through Typically non-metals Result in a continuous build-up of static electricity Can be used to protect us from being shocked e- e- e- e- e-

CONDUCTOR material wherein electrons can move easily through Typically metals Does not allow for a build-up of static electricity Used to allow electricity to flow from one place to another e- e- e- e- e- e- e- e- e-

SEMI-CONDUCTOR An exception to the rule Materials where the electrons can move fairly well (not great, but O.K) Typically non-metal Often used in electronics

CAN YOU THINK OF ANY EVERYDAY INSULATORS, CONDUCTORS, OR SEMI-CONDUCTORS? A conductivity tester lets you figure out if a material is a conductor or an insulator. When a conductor is attached to the tester, the light will turn on When an insulator is attached to the tester, the light stays off

Water Pure water is a good insulator (it won’t allow charges to flow through it) But is water ever pure? Because water is the “universal solvent” almost everything can dissolve into it – which means water almost always contains small particles that make it a good conductor instead.

OVERVIEW Insulators don’t allow electrons to flow, while conductors do allow electrons to flow Semi-Conductors allow some electrons to flow You can test a material using a Conductivity Tester Pure Water is a good insulator