An insulator, in electricity is a material or covering that does not admit electrons to complete a circuit. While by comparison an electricity conductor is a type of material that admits that flow. Most materials are somewhere between those two extremes in terms of conductibility. For safety’s sake we need know whether they are insulators or conductors before we use them in a school experiment.
How to Decide Whether Materials Are Insulators or Conductors
One way to do so would be to use a voltmeter, but that could cost a couple months of pocket money. There has to be a cheaper way to do that, and there sure is. To build a test circuit at home all you need are:
- A light bulb from a flashlight of a certain voltage in a holder
- A battery or batteries delivering that same voltage, in a separate holder.
- Two electric wires with exposed ends to connect those two together.
- A third piece of electric wire, but set that aside for later use.
Complete the circuit and satisfy yourself the system works. If it does, that proves the light bulb is a conductor, and the batteries hold a charge. You are now good to go to test various other materials, to discover whether they are insulators or conductors too.
You Have the Kit – Now For the Experiment
- Disconnect one wire – either one – from the battery(s) to prevent the electrons flowing
- Then connect the third electric wire in its place to complete an open circuit for the experiment.
Now touch the two loose wires to any convenient material. If it turns out to be a conductor, electrons will flow and the bulb will light up. But if it is an insulator, then the light bulb will not shine. You now know how to discover whether you can include a material in a circuit. And which materials will prevent electrons flowing.
More Experiments
Easy AA Battery Spinner Experiment
