Electricity 5 Flashcards
What does a conductor do
Allows current to flow
What does a semiconductor do
Allows current to flow if enough energy is provided
What does an insulator do
Doesn’t allow current to flow
What are the 2 most important bands
Conduction band and valence band
Describe electrons in the conduction band
Are free to move allowing current to flow
Describe electrons in the valence band
Can’t move
What is the highest fully occupied band in conductors and insulators
Valence
What are the conduction and valence bands separated by
A band gap
How the electrons move from valence to conduction band
Electrons can jump from valence to conduction if enough energy is provided to jump the gap
Describe the conduction band in insulators
The conduction band is empty
The conduction and valence bands in insulators are ..
Far apart
Will insulators ever conduct
They will conduct if a high enough voltage is provided and this will also destroy the material
What happens to the conduction and valence band in conductors
The valence and conduction bands overlap this means the conduction band is always partially filled
