Conductors and Insulators. 

Good and Bad Conductors of electricity

Conductors are materials that allow electrons can flow through them easily.

Conductor are made up of atoms whose electrons ( conduction band) can escape from the atom influence.In a metal, some electrons are not stuck (fixed) to any particular atom and are free to wander in the metal. For instance, the cooper, the most use conductor in the world, there is usually a free electron from every copper atom. As the electron move, they collide with the atoms and thus meet resistance to their motion. The greater the number of collision the greater the resistance

Some examples of conductors are:

  • Platinum
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Copper
  • Aluminium
  • Tap Water 
  • Animals
  • Trees

Insulators:  In this case, most electrons are attached to particular atoms. Almost none are free to wander through the material, preventing the flow of electricity.

 

Some examples of insulators are:

  • Plastic
  • Porcelain
  • Glass
  • Rubber

Electricity  always take the shortest path (way) to the ground.

As your body is 60% water and that makes you a good conductor of electricity. If a lightning falls on a tree and you touch the tree you become the best path ( the path with less resistance ) to the ground and you has a good chance of get electrocuted.

Wander: move about  without any destination

Collide:  Crash together with violent impact; eg.  "Two meteors collide "

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