Conductor or Insulator

Conductors and Insulators

Conductors are materials that allow heat or electrical energy to easily move through them.

Insulators are materials that do not easily allow heat and electrical energy to move through them.

Multiple Choice

Is rubber a good insulator or good conductor?

• Good conductor

• Good insulator

Multiple Choice

Is this jacket a good conductor or good insulator?

• Good conductor

• Good insulator

Multiple Choice

Is gold a good insulator or a good conductor?

• Good conductor

• Good insulator

Multiple Choice

Is this diamond a good conductor or a good insulator?

• Good conductor

• Good insulator

The hair on animals and people trap tiny pockets of air and that air acts as insulator. Air is a good insulator. It will keep the heat inside the body of a person or animal.

A thermos is designed to prevent conduction, convection and radiation. The glass/plastic that holds the hot liquid is an insulator so heat cannot transfer easily through conduction.

The thermos is also designed to prevent heat loss through convection. The thermos has a vacuum where there is not air. Heat cannot easily transfer through convection.

The thermos is designed to prevent heat loss through radiation. The silver coating inside the glass/plastic that hold that hot liquid reflects the heat back into the liquid.

Multiple Choice

What part of the thermos prevents heat loss through conduction?

• silver coating

• vacuum

• glass/plastic that holds hot liquid

Multiple Choice

Which part of the thermos prevents heat loss through convection?

• silver coating

• vacuum

• glass/plastic liner

Multiple Choice

Which part of the thermos prevents heat loss through radiation?

• silver coating

• vacuum

• glass/plastic liner