Conductors and insulators

1. Conductors and
insulators

2. When it comes to the flow of
electric current, all materials
fall into three categories:

3. When it comes to the flow of
electric current, all materials
fall into three categories:
•insulators

4. When it comes to the flow of
electric current, all materials
fall into three categories:
•insulators
•conductors

5. Insulator –
Any material that does not allow
electric current to pass through it
•plastic
•rubber
•like the protective coating on wires

6. Insulator –
Any material that does not allow
electric current to pass through it
•plastic
•cloth
•wood
•like the protective coating on wires

7. Insulator –
Any material that does not allow
electric current to pass through it
•plastic
•rubber
•glass
•like the protective coating on wires

8. Insulator –
Any material that does not allow
electric current to pass through it
•plastic
•rubber
•glass
•cloth
•wood
•like the protective coating on wires

9. Insulator –
Any material that does not allow
electric current to pass through it
•plastic
•rubber
•glass
•cloth
•wood
•like the protective coating on wires

10. Insulator –
Any material that does not allow
electric current to pass through it
•plastic
•rubber
•glass
•cloth
•wood
•like the protective coating on wires

11. Insulators like plastic
and rubber are used
as a covering for
electric wires.
This makes electric
wires safer to handle
because the insulator
protects you from the
current.

12. Conductor –
insulator conductor
Any material that allows electric
current to pass through it

13. Conductor –
•copper
insulator conductor
Any material that allows electric
current to pass through it

14. Conductor –
•copper
•aluminum
insulator conductor
Any material that allows electric
current to pass through it

15. Conductor –
•copper
•aluminum
•steel
insulator conductor
Any material that allows electric
current to pass through it

16. Conductor –
•copper
•aluminum
•steel
•any metal
insulator conductor
Any material that allows electric
current to pass through it

17. Conductive
material (metal) is
used for wires that
will carry electricity.
insulator
conductor

18. Useful electric current can
only move through a path
of conductive material.

19. Useful electric current can
only move through a path
of conductive material.
This path is called a …..

20. Circuit
A path for electric current

21. An electric
circuit might be
open or closed.

22. Closed Circuit
An unbroken path for electric
current (no gaps, current can flow).
The light
is on

23. Open Circuit
A path for electric current that
has a gap (no current can flow).
gap
The light
is off

24. Most electrical devices
have a switch in the
circuit to make it easy to
close (turn on) and
open (turn off) the
circuit.

25. Switch A tool to open and
close a circuit
switch

26. A circuit can also be
opened and closed by
touching two wires together.
Open circuit Closed circuit
No current can flow current can flow

27. A circuit can also be closed
by touching those two wires
to a conductor.
ed circuit
current can flow