1. INSULATORS AND CONDUCTORS
STATIC ELECTRICITY
INSULATORS AND CONDUCTORS

2. 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

3. The answer…

4. 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-

5. 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-

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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