Electricity Topic

Electrical Conductors and Insulators

This science revision note aims to help your child

– understand how electric current flows in a closed circuit.

– how to identify electrical conductors and insulators

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Jody had four blocks of different materials (A, B, C and D) and wanted to find out which of them are conductors of electricity. She set up an electrical circuit using the four blocks and four switches (W, X, Y and Z) as shown below.

She tried closing different combinations of switches and recorded down her observations of the light bulb.

Which of the materials are conductors of electricity and which are insulators of electricity?

STEP 1

Look at each of the combinations the switches are closed (combinations 1, 2 and 3) and determine what it tells you about each material – if the material is a conductor of electricity, an insulator of electricity or if it is still unclear.

Tip: Highlight the circuit formed when the respective switches are closed to easily visualise the circuit!

Combination 1 – From the table

Combination 2 – From the table

Combination 3 – From the table

FINALLY, put your answer together

Question: Which of the materials are conductors of electricity and which are insulators of electricity?

Answer: Materials A and C are conductors of electricity, while Materials B and D are insulators of electricity.

Common mistakes

Wrong reasoning: Both Materials A and B are electrical insulators because the bulb does not light up when switches W and X are closed.

This is incorrect because as long as one of the materials in a circuit is an electrical insulator, electricity cannot flow through the circuit and the bulb cannot light up. This means that it is possible for one material to be an electrical conductor while only one is an electrical insulator. Hence, you will have to look at the rest of the combinations in which the switches are closed in order to confirm whether Materials A and B are electrical conductors or insulators.

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Click here to read the revision notes on series and parallel circuits >>> https://scienceshifu.com/what-are-series-and-parallel-circuits/