Insulators and Conductors!!!

What Are Insulators and Conductors???

• Insulators - DOES NOT allow electricity to flow easily - Non-metallic - ex: Plastic, Cotton balls - “Holds” the electrons making it hard to move

• Conductors - ALLOWS electricity to flow easily - Metallic OR contains water AND salt - ex: Copper, Salt water

Why Do They Exist?

• You learned about:

- Static electricity

- Electricity built up in ONE PLACE

- Static = STATIONARY =

Does not Move

- ex: Rubbing balloon on hair

Current Electricity

• Charge (electrons) that can move along a closed path (circuit) freely

- ex: Inside length of a wire etc.

Bulbs

• Outside made of glass on top and metal base on the bottom

• Electrons flow through metal on bottom• Flow through filament which causes the light inside the

bulb to glow. • Energy changed from electrical to light• Electricity flows out through metal bump at the very

bottom of the bulb• Air is taken out of bulb and filled with Argon

- Makes bulb last much longer

Fuses

• Fuse – Thin wire placed in a circuit that prevents too much electricity from passing through

- Safety device to prevent fires!

- Too much juice = Fuse BLOWS!

- Once it blows it must be replaced

- ex: Toasters, CD players

Breakers• Also a safety device• Prevent circuits in houses and buildings from

being overloaded• “Flips” up and breaker is “tripped”• Unplug some appliances (stove) and breaker

can be flipped back• Unlike fuses, DOES NOT have to be replaced

A Few Questions…

• How is the static electricity on our clothes or in our hair different from the electricity that runs a clock???

• What kind of electricity runs the clock?

• Why are wires and switches on walls covered in plastic?

• Why is it important to have fuses or circuit breakers?

You Are a Conductor!!!

• Nervous system (brain and spinal cord) uses electricity to send messages to other parts of the body

- Messages help us think, react etc. • Do you know what kind of electricity it uses?

In Your Science Journal…

• How does static and current electricity affect your life each day? Explain

• Why is it important to recognize what objects are insulators and conductors?