Difference Between Insulators And Conductors
written by Adeel AbbasThe difference between insulators and conductors is the insulators prevent electricity from traveling through them- they don’t allow any of the charges in the electric field to penetrate their insulating properties and conductor are the material that allows the electricity to pass through them.
Many objects prevent electricity from traveling through them by being insulators or conductors. Rubber, plastic, vinyl, and other synthetic substances are good examples of insulators, while copper, aluminum, and other natural substances are good examples of conductors.
What is an insulator?
An insulator is a material that does not allow electrical charge to pass through it. The definition of an insulator also includes the resistance that insulators have against the passage of electrical current. An insulator protects against conduction by preventing the movement of electric charges through it.
The most common insulators are rubber, plastic, and vinyl- all of which have excellent insulation properties against electric current. Rubber is a natural substance that humans use for insulation purposes- synthetic rubbers are also available and used in various applications.
What is a Conductor?
A conductor is a substance that allows electric current to flow through it. Essentially, a good conductor permits the passage of electric current through itself. In this way, we use conductive materials such as copper and aluminum in various applications, such as building wiring and cooking pans for food preparation.
Difference Between Insulators and Conductors
There are some difference between insulators and conductors.
| Conductor | Insulator |
|---|---|
| A conductor is a material that allows the electric current to pass through it. | The insulator is a material that does not allow the electric current to pass through it. |
| The electric field remains zero inside the conductor but it exists on the surface. | The electric field does not exist in the insulator. |
| It stores energy in the form of a magnetic field. | It does not store energy. |
| The thermal conductivity of the conductor is very high. | The thermal conductivity of the insulator is very low. |
| The electric potential of the conductor remains the same at all points. | The electric potential of the insulator remains zero. |
| The resistance of the conductor is very low. | The resistance of the conductor is very high. |
Related FAQs
What is the main difference between insulators and conductors?
The main difference between insulators and conductors is the material that conducts electricity is called a conductor and the materials that do not allow the current to pass through it is called insulators.
What makes a conductor different from an insulator?
Charge transfer through the free movement of electrons is possible with conductors. The free flow of electrons from atom to atom and molecule to molecule is impeded by the materials that are called insulators.
Are conductors more important than insulators?
Electric current can cause fatal burns since direct contact with electrical circuits can be fatal. Isolites act as a protecting layer and do not conduct electricity, so we can use them to protect ourselves from electricity. In a day to day life, both conductors and insulators are equally important.
Can electricity flow through insulators?
Electric current can flow freely in a conductor, but in an insulator it can’t. Most non-metallics have high resistance to the flow of charge through them, and metals such as copper typify conductors.
How do you know if an object is a conductor or insulator?
Current flow is easy due to the fact that metals are very good conductors. The materials that don’t allow current flow easily are called insulators. Plastic, wood and rubber are some of the nonmetal materials that are insulators. If you have ever plugged something into a wall outlet you will notice this.
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