Conductor Definition

An electrical conductor is an object or type of material that facilitates the movement of charge (electric current) in one or more directions in the fields of physics and electrical engineering. Metals are commonly used as electrical conductors in a variety of applications. Electric current is formed by the flow of negatively charged electrons, positively charged holes, and, in some situations, positive or negative ions.

It is not essential for one charged particle to go from the component creating the current (the current source) to the components consuming it in order for current to flow within a closed electrical circuit (the loads). The charged particle just needs to nudge its neighbour a finite amount, who will nudge its neighbour, and so on and so forth until a particle gets nudged into the consumer, supplying power to it. This mechanism is more accurately described by the Drude conduction model, which depicts a long chain of momentum transfer between mobile charge carriers in more detail. A metal is an excellent conductor because it has the characteristic of having an electron sea that is delocalized and thus has enough mobility to collide and thus affect a momentum transfer. Metals, in general, have the characteristic of having an electron sea that is delocalized and thus has enough mobility to collide and thus affect a momentum transfer.

As previously established, electrons are the principal mover in metals; nevertheless, positive charge carriers are required by other devices, such as the cationic electrolyte(s) in a battery or the mobile protons in a proton conductor in a fuel cell. Insulators are non-conducting materials that have a small number of mobile charges and can only support very small electric currents.

What is the Definition of an Electrical Conductor

To give the most basic explanation of electrical conductors, you could say that they are materials that allow electricity to pass through them readily. When two types of materials are compared, and the first one allows electricity to pass through them more readily than the second, the first material is referred to as a strong conductor of electrical current. The following are some examples of conductors of electricity: 

Copper

Aluminium

Silver

Gold

Graphite

Platinum

Water

People

An electric conductor is a material that allows electrical charges to easily travel through it. The ability of conductors to “conduct” electricity is referred to as their conductivity. Such materials provide less “barrier” to the movement of charges than other types of materials. Conducting materials are useful for charge transfer because they allow for the free movement of electrons through them.

The Characteristics of an Electrical Conductor

An ideal conductor exhibits the following characteristics when it is in equilibrium:

A conductor is a device that allows the movement of electrons and ions in a system.

The electrical field of a conductor is zero, allowing electrons to move freely through it.

The charge density of a conductor is equal to zero.

There are no free charges anywhere else on the conductor except on its surface.

The potential difference between the conductor’s ends is the same.

A wide variety of metals are excellent conductors of electricity. Insulators are defined as a plastic layer that protects an electrical conductor from contact with the surrounding environment. This keeps us from receiving an electric shock.

Voltage

Electric potential difference, electric pressure, or electric tension are all terms used to describe the difference in electric potential between two points. In a static electric field, the difference in electric potential between two points is defined as the amount of work required per unit charge to move a test charge between the two points. The derived unit for voltage (potential difference) in the International System of Units is denoted by the letter “volt.” 166 joules per coulomb is the unit of work per unit charge in the International System of Units (SI), where 1 volt = 1 joule (of work) per 1 coulomb (of charge). Since 1990, the quantum Hall and Josephson effects have been utilised to define the volt; more recently (in 2019), fundamental physical constants have been added to be used in the definition of all SI units and derived units, replacing the previous power and current definition. If you’re familiar with Ohm’s or Kirchhoff’s circuit principles, you’ll know that voltage or electric potential difference is indicated symbolically by the letters V or U.

Insulators

Insulators are materials or substances that resist or do not allow current to pass through them. Insulators are used to protect electrical equipment. They are, on the whole, solid in their natural state. Insulators are frequently used in a variety of systems because they prevent heat from flowing through them. The resistivity of insulators distinguishes them from conductors since it is a feature of their conductivity.

Wood, cloth, glass, mica, and quartz are all excellent insulators, as are other natural materials. Insulators are used to protect against fire, sound, and, of course, the passage of electrical current. Furthermore, insulators do not contain any free electrons at all. This is the most commonly accepted explanation for why they don’t conduct electrical current.

Insulators include the following: 

Some examples of insulators are provided in the next section.

• Because it has the highest resistance of any insulator, glass is the most effective. 
• Plastic is an excellent insulator and is utilised in the production of a wide range of items. 
• Rubber is a common substance that is used in the production of tyres, fire-resistant apparel, and slippers, among other things. This is due to the fact that it is an insulator.

Conclusion

As a result, conductors are crucial things that can be used in a variety of situations. It is necessary to have a conductor because of its ability to conduct both electricity and heat. Materials composed of conductors and insulators are used for a variety of diverse applications.