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: To determine if an [[object]] is a good '''electrical insulator''' the [[object]] can be added to a [[circuit]]. If a [[Electrical Current|current]] flows then it is not a good '''insulator'''.
: To compare the effectiveness of different '''insulators''' an [[ammeter]] can be added to the [[circuit]]. The higher the [[Electrical Current|current]] the worse the [[object]] is at '''insulating'''.
==Key Stage 4==
===Meaning===
An '''electrical insulator''' is a [[material]] with a very high [[Electrical Resistance|resistance]] to the flow of [[electricity]].
===About Electrical Conductors===
: [[Non-metal]] [[element]]s are usually good '''electrical insulators''' as [[electron]]s are not free to move from one [[atom]] to another. [[Carbon]] in the form of [[graphite]] is an exception to this.
: [[Plastic (Material)|Plastic]]s are good '''insulators''' because [[Covalent Bond|covalent bonds]] share [[electron]]s but do not allow [[electron]]s to be transferred from one [[atom]] to another.
: [[Metal]] [[element]]s are poor '''electrical insulators'''.
: To determine if an [[object]] is a good '''electrical insulator''' the [[object]] can be added to a [[circuit]]. If the [[ratio]] of [[Potential Difference|potential difference]] to [[Electrical Current|current]] is high then it is a good '''insulator'''.