Contents
Key Stage 2
Meaning
An electrical insulator is a material that does not allow electricity to flow through it easily.
- Singular Noun: Electrical insulator
- Plural Noun: Electrical insulator
- Verb: To electrically insulate
- Adjective: Electrical insulation
About Electrical Conductors
Brick is a good electrical insulator. | Fabric is a good electrical insulator. | Glass is a good electrical insulator. |
Plastic is a good electrical insulator. | Rock is a good electrical insulator. | Rubber is a good electrical insulator. |
Key Stage 3
Meaning
An electrical insulator is a material with a very high resistance to the flow of electricity.
About Electrical Conductors
- Non-metal elements are usually good electrical insulators. Carbon in the form of graphite is an exception to this.
- Metal elements are poor electrical insulators.
- To determine if an object is a good electrical insulator the object can be added to a circuit. If a 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 current the worse the object is at insulating.
Key Stage 4
Meaning
An electrical insulator is a material with a very high resistance to the flow of electricity.
About Electrical Conductors
- Non-metal elements are usually good electrical insulators as electrons are not free to move from one atom to another. Carbon in the form of graphite is an exception to this.
- Plastics are good insulators because covalent bonds share electrons but do not allow electrons to be transferred from one atom to another.
- Metal elements 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 to current is high then it is a good insulator.