Hello, friends, I hope you all are doing great. In today’s tutorial, we will discuss the Difference Between Conductor and Insulator. The basic difference between a conductor and an insulator is that in a conductor current can pass while in an insulator current can not flow.
In today’s post, we will have a detailed look at both conductor and insulator with a detailed comparison of them to find their differences. So let’s get started with the Difference Between a Conductor and an Insulator.
Difference Between Conductor and Insulator
Conductor
- Such type of material through which electricity passes is called a conductor. Normally its example is a metallic substance.
- Current is generated in the conductor due to free electrons, hols, and ions having positive and negative charges.
- the current can only pass in the conductor if it has a closed path.
- the value of current passing in the conductor relies on the resistance offered by the substance high resistance less current will flow low resistance high current will flow.
- There is an inverse relationship between the conductor and resistance.
- Resistance also depends on the length of the conductor.
- R=L/A
- From this equation, we can see that resistance is directly proportional to the length and inverse to the area of the conductor.
- Lenght is measured in meters and area in meter square.
- Aluminum is used to make conductors of transmission lines.
- Mercury used in thermometer
What is Insulator
- Such types of substances through which current can not pass are called insulators.
- These materials do not show conduction since that does not have free electrons like conductors.
- Their high value of resistance stops to current flow.
- An example of this material is all types of nonmetals.
- There is no existence of the finest insulator materials since movable charges exist in insulators can cause current.
- If an electrical field in terms of high volts is given to insulating it will show a conductor-like feature.
- these materials are used with different electrical device that provide porcelain form connection to other conductors.
- These substances are also used as insulation material.
- Transmission line towers are also created with insulators
- Pin-type insulator used in transmission lines has pin-like configurations at top.
- They have a hole on the upper part and the conductor can move from it.
- they employed for thirty thee kilovolt lines
- Insulator employed in large voltage lines created with porcelain glass.
Conductor and Insulator Examples
Conductors
- Graphite
- Human body
- Brass
- Aluminum
- Steel
- Iron
- Earth
- Gold
- Copper
- Silver
- Mercury
Insulators
- Glass
- Plastic
- Ceramic
- Porcelain
- Rubber
- Wood
- Mica
Conductor vs Insulator
Conductor
- These materials allow to flow of current called conductors.
- They have high conductivity.
- It has low resistance to current flow.
- Electrons move freely in the conductor.
- It comes with less than 4 valence electrons in the external shell.
- It has an electrical field on the conductor surface and zero on the inner side.
- It has the same capacitance for all points.
- It has a weak covalent bond between atoms.
- Resistivity varies from high to low.
- The main examples are gold, copper, and aluminum.
- It comes with a positive resistance coefficient and provides increases in resistance with temperature.
- It has a conduction band with electrons.
- It has a valance band empty
- It does not have a forbidden energy gap, since valance and conduction gaps are overlapped and electrons can flow.
- It comes with high thermal conductivity
Insulator
- It does not allow current to flow easily.
- It has very low or negligible conductivity.
- It has high resistance.
- It comes with more than 4 electrons in the external shell.
- It does not produce an electrical field.
- It has zero capacitance
- It has a negative temperature coefficient of resistance, which causes resistance to reduce with temperature increases.
- It has an empty conduction band
- It has a large forbidden energy gap.
Applications of Conductors
- In car radiators, conductors are used to reduce heat from the engine.
- Mercury is a conducting material used in thermometers for measuring temperature.
- Iron is used in vehicle engines since it conducts heat.
- Aluminum is part of making fry pans since its conductivity helps to cook food fast.
Applications of Insulators
- Thermoplastic bottles use thermal insulators to stop heat transfer. These insulators are used for ceilings.
- For noise level reducing in any place insulators are used they can easily absorb sound. They are part of conference halls.
- It is also used for high-voltage systems and for coating wires and cables.
Read also
- What is Semiconductor? Working, Types, Features, & Uses
- Difference Between Semiconductors and Superconductors
- Difference Between Conductor and Insulator
- Difference between N and P Type Semiconductors
- Conductivity of Semiconductor
It is a detailed post about the difference between conductor and insulator if you have any further query ask in the comments. Thanks for reading.
