Conductors and insulators

• A conductor is a material that allows electrons to move from one atom to another
• Conductors/Conducting materials cannot be charged unless they are held using an insulating material to prevent them from losing their charge
• Insulators are materials in which electrons are held firmly in their atoms
• An insulating material ca be charged using friction
• This is because the charge produced cannot be lost when the charge moves from its original site/material
• A charge is earthed when it flows through a conducting material into the ground
• A human body is capable of earthing a charge
• It can allow a charge to flow through it into the earth
• Examples of conductors are metals
• An example of an insulator is plastic/polythene

To access more topics go to the Combined Science Notes page.