Key points
- Conductors allow electrical current to flow easily due to low resistance. Examples include copper, aluminium, and gold.
- Semiconductors have electrical properties between conductors and insulators, used to control electrical current. Common materials are silicon, germanium, and gallium arsenide.
- Insulators prevent electrical current flow due to high resistance. Examples include plastic, glass, and rubber.
What are conductors?
Copper conductive wires in an electric cable
- Most metals, like copper, aluminium, and gold, allow electrical current to flow through them easily due to their low electrical resistance.
- The process of electrical current flowing through a wire is called conduction. Conductive materials are called conductors.
- Examples of common conductors include copper wiring, circuit boards, electrical components, and the metal parts of electric plugs and sockets.
Copper conductive wires in an electric cable
What are semiconductors?
A computer chip contains semiconductor material
- Semiconductors are materials that have electrical properties in between those of conductors and insulators.
- They can be used to control the flow of electrical current, which is the basis for transistors and integrated circuits in electronic devices.
- Common semiconductor materials include silicon, germanium, and gallium arsenide.
- Examples of semiconductors include computer chips, diodes, and transistors.
A computer chip contains semiconductor material
What are insulators?
Plastic is a good insulator and is used to cover electrical components for safety
- Non-metallic materials, such as plastic, glass, and rubber, do not allow electrical current to flow through them easily.
- They have a high electrical resistance and are called insulators.
- Insulators are used to prevent the flow of electricity, such as in the casing of electrical cables or the coating on wires.
- Examples of insulators include plastic, rubber, glass, and ceramic.
Plastic is a good insulator and is used to cover electrical components for safety
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