Short Notes:

Some materials allow electricity to flow through and thus are able to conduct electricity. We call those materials electrical conductors. However, some materials are not able to conduct electricity and are termed electrical insulators. Whether a material transmits electricity is determined by its atomic structure. The more free electrons available in the material, the better its electrical conducting ability.

Iron, gold, copper have many of these free electrons. These free electrons are not attached to any particular atom. These free electrons are thus able to roam and orbit from one atom to another. When the conductor is connected to an electrical source (e.g. battery), the electric field organises the electrons' haphazard motion into a steady flow. This allows electricity to flow through the material.

Insulators, have few, if any, of these freely available electrons. Materials like plastics, rubber, and glass are examples of electrical insulators. In such materials, the electrons are attached to atoms and are not free to roam around. Thus, insulators do not allow electricity to flow through and do not conduct electricity.

Click here for a Flash presentation on atoms in conductors.

Click here for a Flash presentation on atoms in insulators.

Click here for a Flash presentation on current flow in conductors.

Click here for a Flash presentation on current flow in insulators.