Conductor and Insulator

The object that will get charged or not, it totally depends on what kind of material is used in making the object? Either the material used is conductive or non-conductive in nature. Because the material which is conductive in nature will allow the heat and electricity to pass through it and we call it as conductor, vice-versa the material which is non-conductive will not allow the heat and electricity to pass through it. But what are the reasons that electricity and heat pass through the conductor and not through the insulator.we will discuss it in detail below. 

Conductor

Conductors are materials that allow electrons to flow freely from one particle to another. 

An object made of conductive material will transfer the charge over the entire surface of the object. If the charge is transferred to the object in a certain position, this charge is quickly distributed over the entire surface of the object. 

The charge distribution is the result of the movement of electrons. Since conductors allow electrons to be transported from one particle to another, a charged object will always distribute its charge until the overall repulsive forces between excess electrons are minimized, the conductor can also transfer its charge to this object. happens more easily if the second object is made of conductive material. 

Conductors allow the transfer of charge through the free movement of electrons.

Example of Conductor

Silver is the best conductor of electricity, but due to its high cost it is not used everywhere.

Materials such as copper, aluminium, iron, gold and brass are good conductors, and copper and aluminium are used most for conduction of electricity and heat as well.

Liquid such as mercury is a good conductor of electricity.

When it comes to gases, the Gas are bad conductor of electricity (because the atom in gases are far away from each other)

Application of Conductor

Conductors are used everywhere when it comes to either passing electricity or heat. From aeroplane to pressure cooker you can see Aluminium is used. 

Not limited to this, copper is used in most of the electric wire and aluminium comes second while used as electric wire, Whereas silver is the best conductor of electricity but due to its high cost it is replaced with copper and aluminium.

We can find aluminium is used in the production of foils for food preservation. It is also used in the manufacture of pressure cookers to quickly store heat. 

Iron is one of the most common materials used in the manufacture of vehicle engines to conduct heat. The iron plate is made of steel so that it quickly absorbs heat. Drivers find its use in car radiators to eradicate heat from the engine.

Mercury is one of the common materials in thermometers that is used to monitor body temperature.

Insulator

Insulators are materials that prevent the free flow of electrons from one atom to another and from one molecule to another. 

If the charge is transferred to an isolator in a certain position, the excess charge will remain in the original charge position. The insulation particles do not allow the free circulation of electrons; thereafter, the charge is uniformly distributed over the surface of an insulator. 

Although insulators are not useful for transferring charge, they play a vital role in electrostatic experiments and demonstrations. 

Conductive objects are often mounted on insulating objects. This arrangement of a conductor over an insulator prevents charge from being transferred from the conductive object to the other.

From the kitchen to the experiment lab everywhere insulators are used.

In the kitchen the handle of a pan or a pressure cooker is covered with an insulator that’s why everyone can touch it and don’t feel heat.

Moreover, the insulators are also used as a handle to move the conductor across a lab table. 

If filling experiments are performed with aluminium cans, the cans should be mounted on the polystyrene cups. The cups act as insulators, preventing the pop cans from discharging their charge.

Example of Insulator

Rubber is a common material used in the manufacture of tires, flame retardant clothing and slippers. This is because it is an excellent insulator.

Glass is the best insulator because it has the highest resistivity. 

Plastic is a good insulator and finds use in making a number of things.

Application of Insulator

Insulators are used everywhere where it comes to preventing the passes of heat and electricity.

From the handle of the pressure cooker (to resist heat) to the handle of the electric current tester (to resist electric current) you can see the insulator everywhere.

Moreover Sound insulators help to control the noise level because they absorb sound well. Therefore, we use them in buildings and conference rooms to make them quiet. 

Electrical insulators obstruct the flow of electrons or the passage of current through them. Therefore, they are used to coat electrical wires and cables.

Conclusion

Conductors play an important role because of their conductive nature. We use conductors for high voltage current supply to electric current testers. But we can’t ignore the Insulator as due to its non-conductive nature it protects us from the current and heat so that we don’t get hurt or burn. Both conductor and insulator are used for various purposes in day to day life. Both conductor and insulator have different abilities and that’s why both are used wherever it is needed.