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A charged object’s behaviour depends on the kind of material it is made of, i.e. conductive or nonconductive. Looking at the conductor’s definition, you’ll learn that conductive materials are those that allow electrons to move freely from particle to particle. Thus, we call them conductors. On the other hand, insulators are those materials that do not allow electrons to move freely from atom to atom. Objects made with conductive materials usually have a coating of insulating materials in order to prevent any type of charge transfer from the conductive material to its surroundings. Let’s take a look at both of these materials in detail.
Conductors Definition
Conductors are materials that can allow charges to flow in one or more directions. Any object that has been made of conducting material allows the charge to move across the object’s entire surface. Electron movement allows this distribution of charge. If a conductor that is charged touches any other object, it can transport its charge on it. It happens effortlessly when the second object is also composed of a conductive material. In conductors, the transfer of charge happens via the electron’s free movement.
Applications of Conductors
- There are many applications of conductors. Mostly, we use them in our day-to-day life. We use cookware made of conductors to cook our food.
- We also use conductors in car radiators for eliminating heat from the engine of the car.
- A steam or press iron is a tool that we use in our daily lives for removing creases from our clothes. It is made of conductor materials.
- Copper is a pure metal with high electrical conductivity. Thus, we use it for a conductor cable.
- The baking tools that you use are made of conducting materials because we put them in the oven or toaster.
- The auto parts industry uses silver (a conducting material) for the manufacturing of spark plugs.
Examples of Conductors
- Metals like copper, silver, gold, etc.
- Graphite
- Iron
- Human Body
- Aqueous solutions of salts
Insulators Definition
Insulators are substances that hinder the flow of electrical or thermal currents. They do not allow electrons to flow freely from one molecule to another. If a charge transfer happens in an insulator at a specific location, the extra charge will stay at the original location of charging. Thus, the charge does not get transferred on the insulator’s surface evenly. Although they do not transfer charges, they are essential in electrostatic experiments and demonstrations.
Examples of Insulators
- Rubber
- Styrofoam
- Dry Air
- Paper
- Plastics
- Glass
Relation Between Conductors and Insulators
Dividing materials into conductors and insulators is a rather artificial thing. What would be more appropriate is considering materials as being positioned anywhere along with a range. For instance, materials with high conductivity can be found at the end, while one with the lowest conductivity can be placed at the other end.
Thus, things can be ranked from being most conducive to least conductive. In the former, metal will take the first place, while in the latter, the glass will take place. In simpler terms, metal is a million times more conductive than glass. The human body is also considered conductive.
Difference Between Conductors and Insulators
Conductors | Insulators |
These materials permit electrons to move freely from one atom to the other atom. | These materials do not permit electrons to move freely from one atom to the other atom. |
Conductors possess the ability to pass electricity through them. | Insulators do not possess the ability to pass electricity through them. |
Materials that can be considered good conductors possess high conductivity. | Materials that can be considered good insulators possess low conductivity. |
They are able to conduct electricity due to the presence of free electrons in them. | They are able to insulate electricity due to the presence of tightly bound electrons in the atoms. |
The most common examples of conductors are metals like silver, copper, iron, aluminium, and more. | The most common examples of insulators are materials like glass, plastic, rubber, pure water, ceramic, asphalt, and more. |
Atoms in conductors cannot hold onto their electrons tightly. | The atoms of insulators are tightly bound, so they cannot transfer electrical energy. |
An electric field is present on its surface, but on the inside, it is zero. | An electric field is absent. |
Conclusion
The conductor allows charges to flow freely all over its atomic structure while insulators hold that charge within its atomic structure. Objects that have the same charges repel each other. But, ones with unlike charges will be attracted towards each other. Conductors and insulators are equally important materials that we come across and use in our daily lives. Sometimes, they’re also used together so as to maintain the perfect balance—for instance, a metal frying pan with a plastic handle.
