Electricity
Jordan Kocarek
ELECTRICITY BACKGROUND INFO
Electricity is the energy from the flow of electrons. It is a secondary form of kinetic energy.
Conductor
A conductor freely allows the flow of electrons and has very little resistance
Examples: iron, water, and most other metals, are conductors!
When you put a metal pot on the stove, it will get very hot because the heat runs through it quick and easy with no stop, and if you touch it, it will burn you. If you put a rubber handle on it. It won't be as hot.
Semi-Conductor
A semi-conductor does not allow electrons to flow freely, but do not directly stop them either. There is more resistance than conductors but less than insulators.
Examples: silicon and geranium are semi-conductors!
Most electronic devices, like your phone, have semi-conductors. The electrons cannot just flow around everywhere but they can get through slower so your device doesn't get crazy hot.
Insulators
An insulator greatly slows down or stops the flow of electrons with a very high resistance.
Example: glass, rubber, and water are all insulators!
In your house, the wires are all covered with a coating made of a material like rubber. This material is an insulator. It stops the electrons from shocking any person who touches it.
Comparing and Contrasting!
A conductor is different from a semi-conductor and an insulator because of it's resistance and it's ease to the flow of electrons. An insulator has the most resistance, a conductor has the least, and a semi- conductor is in the middle. A conductor lets electrons flow easiest, an insulators has electrons flow the least, and semi-conductor is in the middle.
Conductors
Metal wires (inside the coating on the outside) are conductors. They let electrons flow fast and freely.
Semi-Conductors
Most electronic devices are semi-conductors!!! The electrons cannot flow fast and free but they still flow.
Insulators
This holder on the outside of the cup is an insulator because it stops the flow of electrons and it holds in the heat so it doesn't burn your hand.