Electric conductors and insulators

Electric Conductors and Insulators

Conductors - Materials that allow electricity to flow through them easily.

Insulators - Materials that do not allow electricity to pass through them.

• Human body is a conductor, so touch a current carrying wire is detrimental and so insulating it prevents from an electric shock.
• Some examples of conductors are: Metals like copper, Iron
• Some examples of insulators are: Rubber, Plastic

This sign is used in areas which are near electric junctions as a warning.

Electrical Safety

Electricity can be very dangerous if you do not handle electrical devices carefully. One should never play with electrical wires and sockets. Electricity from cells is safe and you can experiment with it, but you have to be careful not to connect the two terminals of a cell directly through a wire/conductor. Electricity generated by portable generators is dangerous and should not be used for experiments.

A demo video link to understand the working of Electric Circuit

https://youtu.be/GMS6SUYqsMM

Conclusion:

• Source of electric current: A device that can be used to produce an electric current is called a source of electric current.
• Electric circuit: A path for an electric current to flow is called an electric circuit.
• Closed-circuit: A circuit that has an ‘unbroken path’ through which an electric current can flow is called a closed circuit.
• Open circuit: A circuit with a break in it is called an open circuit.
• Electric switch: A device that is used to open or close a circuit is called an electric switch.
• Conductor (in this chapter): A material that allows electric current to pass through it easily is called a conductor.
• Insulator (in this chapter): A material that does not allow an electric current to pass through it easily is called an insulator.
• In a dry cell, a chemical reaction takes place to produce an electric current.
• A dry cell contains solid or semisolid ingredients.
• All cells have two terminals: the positive and the negative terminal.
• Electric current flows only if there is an unbroken or complete path, starting from one terminal of the source, through various devices back to the other terminal of the source.
• An electric switch is a device that is used to open or close a circuit.
• Safety is important while using electricity.