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Conductors & Insulators
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Electricity 2 types of electricity
Static electricity: when electrical charges are at rest (as we have already covered). Current electricity: when electrical charges are in motion (in a wire loop) causing an electric current to flow.
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Electric Current Electric current is the orderly flow of electrons through a conductor. Electron flow: the direction the electrons actually move (- to +) Conventional current: the direction positive particles would flow if they could move (+ to -). BUT THEY DON’T MOVE! Only the electrons move.
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Conductors: Substance that allows electric current to pass. Most metals. Ex. - Metal wires (ex. Aluminum or copper) or graphite rods
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Insulators: Substance that does NOT allow electric current to pass. Most non-metals. Ex. - Plastic, Wood, Paper, Rubber, Glass, Ceramics
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Semi-Conductor Substance that partially allow electric current to pass are semi-conductors. Metal alloys are semi-conductors. Metal alloys are a mixture of metals or metals and non-metal products. Ex – Steel (iron and carbon), electrum (silver and copper), brass (copper and zinc), stainless steel (steel, chromium and nickel), white gold (gold, nickel, and palladium), and pewter (lead and copper)
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Wood, Rubber, Vinyl, Glass, Plastics are not a good conductor
Water, is a good conductor (sort of) Copper, Aluminum, Zinc, Iron, Lead are GOOD conductors Steel, Brass and Pewter are GOOD semi-conductor
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SHORT Thick COLD Conductance of a wire depends on: Length Diameter
Temp Material Copper is excellent Metals better than non-metals SHORT Thick COLD
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Ex #1 Ex #2 Which is a better conductor? Plastic Copper Wood Iron
Which metal wire has the best conductance?
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Ex #3 Which wire is the best conductor? SHORT THICK COLD Wood 55oC
Copper 25oC SHORT THICK COLD Copper 25oC Copper 55oC Aluminum 25oC Copper 5oC
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have a high level of conductance
Key Points to Remember Copper and Aluminum are excellent conductors Wires that are: SHORT THICK COLD have a high level of conductance
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Key Points to Remember Conductors – creates an electrical current
Insulators – prevent an electrical current from happening Semi-Conductors – partially create an electrical current
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