Conductors - Good Conductor of Electricity, Types, Examples, Properties, Superconductors and FAQs (2024)

Conductors - Good Conductor of Electricity, Types, Examples, Properties, Superconductors and FAQs (1)

Each material is different and has its characteristics and properties. Some materials have electrically charged particles which are free to move inside them, known as free electrons. When such materials are connected to a battery or a cell, the free electrons start to move and allow electricity to pass through them. The ability of the materials to pass electricity through them is known as conductivity. Depending on the conductivity, materials are classified as conductors, insulators and superconductors.

Materials with good mobility of electrons are known as conductors and materials with less mobility of electrons are referred to as insulators. The conductor with the comparatively easy flow of electrons is classified as a good conductor of electricity. In this article, let us know the best conductor of electricity and its properties.

Table of Contents:
  • What is an Electrical Conductor
  • Types of Conductors
  • Properties of Electrical Conductor
  • Superconductors
  • Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

What is an Electrical Conductor?

If you have to define the meaning of electrical conductors in the simplest way, they are materials that allow electricity to flow through them easily. If we compare two types of material and the first one allows a better flow of electricity through it, then that material is said to be a good conductor of electricity.

Some examples of conductors of electricity are

  • Copper
  • Aluminium
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Graphite
  • Platinum
  • Water
  • Human Body

An electrical conductor allows the electric charges to flow through them easily. The property of conductors to “conduct” electricity is called conductivity. Such materials offer less opposition or “resistance” to the flow of charges. Conducting materials allows easy charge transfer because of the free movement of electrons through them.

For Better Understanding
Conductors and InsulatorsContinuous Charge Distribution
Electric Field LinesElectric Potential

Types of Conductors

  • Metals

Most conducting materials used for practical applications are metals. For example, the wire around your house probably uses copper as conducting materials or alloys. The electric plugs have metal in them, and the internal mechanism of your electric irons also uses metals as their conducting material. This is because metals have lots of free electrons and promote mobility. Some of the best metal conductors are Silver (Ag), Copper (Cu) and Gold (Au).

The more free electrons present in a metal, the greater its conductivity. Comparatively, silver has better electrical conductivity than copper and gold. Since silver is far more expensive than copper, copper finds its application in all household appliances and circuits.

Aluminium is also one of the best conductor of electricity which has a conductivity slightly lesser than copper. It is used in the home’s internal wiring, and most commonly, it is used in combination with copper.

Silver oxide batteries are widely used in watches and hearing aids since it is light-weight and durable.

  • Non – Metals

There are some non-metals which are excellent conductors of electricity. For example, carbon in the form of graphite is an excellent conductor of electricity. If you see the structure of graphite, only three of the four carbon atoms are used for bonding. This leaves one electron free for bonding. However, most non-metals are not good conductors of electricity.

  • Ionic Conductors

Conductors in their solution form are called ionic conductors. For example, saltwater is an ionic solution and is a good conductor of electricity.

  • Semiconductors

Although semiconductors are not as good at conducting electricity as conductors, they still have their uses. Examples of semiconductors are Germanium (Ge) and Silicon (Si).

Properties of Electrical Conductor

A conductor exhibits the following properties in equilibrium conditions:

  • A conductor always allows the movement of electrons and ions through them.
  • The electric field inside a conductor is zero allowing electrons to flow within them.
  • The charge density inside a conductor is zero.
  • Only on the surface of the conductor do free charges exist.
  • All points of a conductor are at the same potential.

Many metals are good conductors of electricity. This is the reason why parts of appliances that need to pass electricity are made of metals. The plastic covering that surrounds an electrical conductor is known as an insulator. It prevents us from getting an electric shock.

Superconductors

The superconductor is a material that offers no resistance to the flow of electrons and conducts electricity. The superconductivity phenomenon was discovered by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes, the Dutch Physicist in 1911. Superconductors are elements or metallic alloy, when cooled below a certain threshold temperature, lose electrical resistance property and become superconductors.

Some of the best superconductors are niobium, cuprate, magnesium and diboride.

Watch the video and witness a real-life demonstration of charging by conduction

Conductors - Good Conductor of Electricity, Types, Examples, Properties, Superconductors and FAQs (2)

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Q1

What is the inverse of conductance called?

The inverse of conductance is called resistance.

Q2

State True or False: Since metals are good conductors of electricity, electric wires are made of copper wires.

True. Electric wires are made of metal wires because they are good conductors of electricity.

Q3

List some common insulators.

Glass, Plastic and Air are some common examples of insulators.

Q4

Among the following, which is the best conductor of electricity?

  • Aluminium
  • Iron
  • Copper

Among the these, copper is the best conductor of electricity.

Q5

Is wood a good conductor of electricity or a bad conductor of electricity?

Wood is a bad conductor of electricity.

Watch the video and learn more about conductors

Conductors - Good Conductor of Electricity, Types, Examples, Properties, Superconductors and FAQs (3)

Hope you learnt about good conductors of electricity with examples. Stay tuned to BYJU’S and keep falling in love with learning!

Conductors - Good Conductor of Electricity, Types, Examples, Properties, Superconductors and FAQs (2024)

FAQs

What are 5 properties of good conductors? ›

Usually good current carrying conductors should have following properties:
  • Low resistivity.
  • High conductivity.
  • Low temperature coefficient of resistivity.
  • Good thermal conductivity.
Dec 22, 2017

What are 10 bad conductors? ›

Answer: good conductor: iron,copper, aluminum, steel, water, Stainless. bad conductor: wood, plastic, blanket, rubber, straw, wool.

What are the 5 best conductors of electricity? ›

Metals like copper, gold, silver, steel, aluminium and brass and some of the most common and best conductor of electricity.

What is a conductor and the properties of a conductor? ›

A conductor always allows the movement of electrons and ions through them. The electric field inside a conductor is zero allowing electrons to flow within them. The charge density inside a conductor is zero. Only on the surface of the conductor do free charges exist.

Is a diamond a good conductor of electricity? ›

Since each carbon atom is attached to the other four carbon atoms through strong covalent bonds. Hence, no free electrons are present in the diamond crystal. Due to the absence of free electrons, diamond is a poor electrical conductor.

What is the poorest conductor? ›

Among the metals given above, Tungsten evidently has the highest resistance and therefore is the poorest conductor of electricity.

What is the difference between a good conductor and a poor conductor? ›

Good conductor- A conductor is a substance that easily allows electricity to move through it. Silver, in particular, is an excellent electrical conductor. Silver, copper, and other metals are excellent conductors. Poor conductor- Materials that do not allow electricity to pass through them are known as bad conductors.

What metal conducts electricity the worst? ›

Bismuth, tungsten, lead, and titanium are some examples of the least conductive metals. Bismuth is least conductive to heat and electricity and is used in fuses to detect an electrical surge. Tungsten, a rare metal, is nonconductive to electricity under standard temperatures.

Is silver more conductive than gold? ›

Silver has the highest electrical conductivity of all metals. In fact, silver defines conductivity - all other metals are compared against it. On a scale of 0 to 100, silver ranks 100, with copper at 97 and gold at 76.

What conducts better than copper? ›

The most highly conductive metals are silver, copper and gold. Copper, for example, is highly conductive and commonly used in metal wiring. Brass, on the other hand, contains copper but other materials in its makeup reduce conductivity. Pure silver is the most conductive of all metals.

Is a glass window a conductor or insulator? ›

Glass, for instance, is a very good insulator at room temperature, but becomes a conductor when heated to a very high temperature. Gases such as air, normally insulating materials, also become conductive if heated to very high temperatures.

Do conductors carry energy? ›

Overhead conductors carry electric power from generating stations to customers. In order for current to flow within a closed electrical circuit, one charged particle does not need to travel from the component producing the current (the current source) to those consuming it (the loads).

What material lets electricity pass through it? ›

Materials that allow electric current to pass through them easily are known as good conductors of electricity. Eg: Iron, Copper, Silver, etc.

Is plastic a good conductor of electricity? ›

Those materials that do not allow the free flow of electric current are known as insulators. Ex: Rubber, plastic, Dry Wood, Pure water etc. Plastic does not allow flow of current through it.

Which of our 5 materials is a good conductor? ›

Metals are generally good conductors of electricity. Silver being a metal possesses this property. In fact, it is one of the best conductor of electricity among metals. Wood, rubber and plastic are insulators.

What are 5 good conductors and insulators? ›

A few examples of a conductor are silver, aluminium, and iron. A few examples of an insulator are paper, wood, and rubber. Electrons move freely within the conductor. Electrons do not move freely within the insulator.

What makes a good conductor? ›

Passion, intellect, insight, musical talent, and charisma all come into play. A conductor's authority flows from the respect he or she commands, the power of his or her musical vision, and the skill and facility by which musical ideas are communicated through physical movement as well as verbal instructions.

What are the five properties of a poor conductor? ›

A poor conductor or insulator is a material that doesn't readily transmit energy such as heat or electricity. They are characterized by high electrical resistance, low electrical conductivity, inefficient heat transfer, non-magnetism, and high stability.

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