Conductors and Insulators

Question 1

What is a CONDUCTOR?

Answer 1

A substance that allows electrons to move freely from one atom to another

Eg. most metals

Valence electrons are loosely held and move around randomly

“Sea of free electrons”

Question 2

HOW CAN A CONDUCTOR BE CHARGED?

Answer 2

Charge will spread out evenly (electrons don’t want to be near each other)

If the conductor is grounded it will never build up a charge.

Question 3

Give some examples of conductors

Answer 3

Metals
Water
Acids
Human body

Question 4

What is an INSULATOR?

Answer 4

A substance that does not allow electrons to move freely from one atom to another

Eg most non metals

Valence electrons are held tightly and cannot flow easily

Question 5

HOW CAN AN INSULATOR BE CHARGED?

Answer 5

Objects are usually charged by friction.

The charge stays in the area where you charged the object, with electrons “stuck” in that spot.

Insulators can still be polarized.

This means electrons move so like charges stay away from each other.

Question 6

Give some examples of insulators

Answer 6

Rubber
Wood
Glass
Plastic

Question 7

How are Static and the Seasons related?

Answer 7

Cold air is drier than warm air

Contains less water molecules

Dry air acts as an insulator

This is why you might be more staticy in the winter

Question 8

What is Grounding + Electric Discharge?

Answer 8

Grounding: using a conductor to bring charges into the Earth

Discharging: to neutralize a charged object

Grounding is the easiest way to discharge

If negative: removes excess electrons

If positive: gets more electrons

Question 9

What is Lightning 1?

Answer 9

Particles in clouds are always colliding

This transfers electrons → creates positive and negative charges in the clouds

Question 10

What is Lightning 2?

Answer 10

Positive charges gather at the top, where the smaller particles are.

Question 11

What is Lightning 3?

Answer 11

When enough charge builds up, the negative part of the cloud causes a positive charge to form on the ground.

Question 12

What is Lightning 4?

Answer 12

When the cloud builds up too much charge, it releases the excess electrons as lightning.

This lightning causes the air around it to expand quickly, creating thunder.

Question 13

What are LIGHTNING RODS?

Answer 13

Provide a safe path to the ground
Help neutralize the clouds