Conductors and Insulators of Electricity

by Stephen

A major reason electricity works is because of conductors. First metal, water, tall trees and tall items are good conductors because lightning is attracted to them. These materials have many mobile electrons. Metal is an easy substance for lightning to travel through so metals are good conductors.

However, rubber is a bad conductor because lightning bounces off of it. A bad conductor is called an insulator. An insulator has a few mobile electrons. It is important for us to know the difference between good conductors and insulators because if you're outside in an open field during a storm you will know where to go to be safe from the lightning. Truly, knowing the difference between conductors and insulators of electricity can save our lives.

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