5.69. Electric Conductors and Insulators http://www.ck12.org
- Materials that have high resistance to electric current are called electric insulators. Wood, rubber, and plastic
are good electric insulators. - When more than one material is available for electric current to flow through, the current always travels
through the material with the least resistance.
Vocabulary
- electric conductor: Material that has low resistance to the flow of electric current.
- electric insulator: Material that has high resistance to the flow of electric current.
Explore More
At the following URL, do the simulation lab “Conductor or Insulator.” After you work through the lab, identify
which rod insulates and explain how you can tell. http://kids.britannica.com/lm/labunits/activities/Unit_5/product
.html
Review
- What is an electric conductor? Give examples of good electric conductors.
- Explain why electric current doesn’t flow through rubber.
- Jon can see the conductor of the power cord for an electric lamp. Should he use the lamp? Why or why not?