Circuit

Circuits and Conductors Day 3

CONDUCTORS and INSULATORS

Multiple Choice

A student has constructed an emergency flashlight from a 3‐volt battery, an LED bulb, and copper wire. These materials are safe to work with, and low powered enough that there is no danger of electric shock. However, one of the wires is too short to complete the circuit. Which of the following materials can the student use to complete the circuit and turn on the light?

• a string

• a piece of tape

• a paper clip

• a rubber band

​Materials That Conduct Electricity and Those That Do Not

​In fourth grade, you identified common materials that conduct heat well or poorly. For example, most pots and pans are made from metal. Metal conducts heat well, making them perfect for cooking things in. The handles are made from plastic: plastic conducts heat poorly. Plastic handles protect your hand from getting burned when picking up a hot pot.

Multiple Choice

Which object is a conductor of heat?

• An aluminum nail

• A rubber band

• A tree

• A balloon

Multiple Choice

These are examples of

• Conductors

• Insulators

Multiple Choice

These are examples of

• Insulators

• Conductors

​Some materials conduct electricity well and some do not. Metals conduct heat well, and they also conduct electricity. This is why most wires are made from copper, a common metal. Plastics do conduct heat well, and they also don’t conduct electricity well either. This is why the wrapping on most wires is made from rubber and plastics. Just like the plastic handle on a pot protects your hand from a burn, the wrapping on a wire protects you from an electric shock. This is why worn wires (like charging cables) should never be used.

Multiple Choice

What is the difference between a conductor and an insulator?

• An insulator allows electricity to flow through it easily and a conductor does not
• A conductor allows electricity to flow through it easily and an insulator does not.
• An insulator is magnetic and a conductor is not
• A conductor is magnetic and an insulator is not

Multiple Choice

All of the following are conductors except _______.

• metal spoon
• wire
• iron nail
• plastic spoon

Multiple Choice

The plastic covering is there to:

• Provide a conductor for electrical energy to flow.
• Provide an insulator so that electrical energy will not pass outside of the wires.
• Provide a conductor so that electrical energy can NOT flow.
• Provide an insulator so that electrical energy can flow.

​Another common material that conducts both heat and electricity very well is water. When you do touch something hot, you run water over your hand to carry the heat away. Water conducts electricity easily. Devices that use electricity should never be used near water. A hair dryer is a common device used in a bathroom. It should never be used near water, and the plugs in bathrooms have special switches (the red and black buttons on the outlet) that will turn the outlet off if an appliance touches water.

Multiple Choice

What will happen if we connect all the plugs into the same socket?

• electricity lock

• fire

• lightning

• electricity saving

Multiple Choice

What should you never take into the bathroom?

Multiple Choice

Where should you never put your drink to avoid the danger of electricity?

Multiple Choice

What should you do with wet hands before touching electrical items?

• wear rubber gloves

• clean your hand first

• dry your hands

• do nothing

Multiple Choice

Why can't we put the hairdyer near water?

• It can cause dizziness

• Electricity can mix with water

• Electricity can flow through water

• The hairdyer will melt

​In this picture, we can identify a red wire and a black wire. The wires are wrapped with a rubber insulator to prevent shocks. The wires are colored red for the positive or + wire, and black for the negative or – wire. The end of each wire is stripped of its insulation, so that the copper wire itself can be connected to an input or an output. One important safety note: when wires are connected to a source, such as a battery, they must never be touched together. Doing so can result in injury or damage.

Multiple Choice

Which of these would be a good insulator of electricity? 

• Steel Fork
• Wooden Spool

Multiple Choice

Which of these would be a good insulator of electricity? 

• Metal Paper Clip
• Rubber Band

Multiple Choice

Which of the following materials is used to cover electrical wires for safety because it is an insulator of electric energy? 

• Copper 
• Aluminum
• Iron
• Rubber

Multiple Choice

The best insulators are

• Plastic, rubber, wood, glass

• Silver, air, paper, silicon

• Copper, aluminium, gold, steel

• Ceramic, fabric, paper clip, cork

Multiple Choice

An insulator

• Is usually a metal

• Opposes electrical current meaning electric charges do not flow freely

• Conducts electrical current very easily

• Works by electrons jumping from atom to atom through a wire

Multiple Choice

Why is this electrician wearing gloves?

• To keep himself dry

• To insulate himself

• To produce electricity

• To create an electrical circuit

Multiple Choice

One of the cooks in the cafeteria had to take a hot pan off the stove. The pan was made of metal, and was used to cook eggs. To protect his hands from getting burned, the cook should use which of the following tools to remove the hot pan from the stove:

• thick gloves

• thin gloves

• no gloves

• a metal fork