Conductors and Insulators Flashcards
What are conductors?
Materials that allow an electrical charge to flow through them
Common examples include metals like copper, silver, and iron.
What is the effect of resistance in conductors?
Energy is lost as heat, causing the conductor to heat up and the current to weaken
Resistance increases with temperature.
What are insulators?
Materials that do not allow the passage of electrical charge
Insulators hold electrons tightly by positive nuclei.
What is a resistor?
A component that consists of a conductive material used to regulate current in a circuit
Resistors have differing amounts of resistance.
How is resistance measured?
Resistance is measured to determine its effect on current
It indicates the force that opposes the flow of electric current.
What causes resistance in conductors?
Collisions between electrons and atoms
These collisions cause kinetic energy to be converted into heat energy.
What is the heating effect?
The transfer of kinetic energy into heat energy during resistance
This effect can be beneficial or detrimental, depending on the application.
Fill in the blank: Materials that allow electrical charge to flow are called _______.
[conductors]
True or False: Insulators allow electrical current to pass through them.
False
What happens to electrons in a conductor?
Electrons are held loosely by the positive nuclei
This allows them to move more freely compared to insulators.
What happens to electrons in an insulator?
Electrons are held tightly by the positive nuclei
This restricts their movement and prevents electrical conductivity.