Each material which we have seen till date is different and has its properties and characteristics. Some of the materials which have electrically charged particles generally known as electrons. These electrons that are electric charge that is applied to the material at point which is specific point. The electrons which really start to move and allow electricity to pass through it.
The materials which have good mobility that are of electrons are called conductors and materials that are with less mobility of electrons that are referred to as insulators. In this article let us know the best electrical conductors and its properties as well.
Classification of Electrical Conductivity
The ability of the material to pass electricity through it is called conductivity. Depending on the conductivity of the materials are classified as conductors or the insulators and superconductors.
If we have to define the meaning that is of electrical conductors that too in the simplest way that is they are materials that allow electricity that too to flow through them easily. If we compare the other two types of material and the first one that allows the better flow of electricity through it then that material is already said to be a very good conductor of electricity.
Examples of Electrical Conductors
Some of the examples that are of conductors of electricity are:
The Copper
The Aluminium
The Silver
The Gold
The Graphite
The Platinum
The Water
The People
A conductor which is said to be the electrical conductor allows the electric charges to easily flow through them. The property which is of conductors basically to “conduct” the electricity is known as the conductivity. Such materials offer less opposition or we can say resistance to the flow of charges. The Conducting materials that generally allow easy charge transfer because of the free movement of electrons through them.
Good Electric Conductor
The substance that is of the atom is an electrical conductor that must have no energy gap that is between its band of valence and band of conduction. The electron which is said to be the outer electrons in the valence band are loosely attached to the atom. When an electron gets excited due to force which is the electromotive force or thermal effect, it moves from its valence band to conduction band.
The band which is of Conduction is the band where this electron gets its freedom to move anywhere in the conductor. The conductor is formed by two atoms. Thus, as a whole we can consider that the band which is the conduction is in abundance of electrons. In other words we can say that the bonds which are metallic are present in the conductors. These metallic bonds which are basically based on the structure that is of positive metal ions. These structures are surrounded by clouds of electrons.
Properties of Electrical Conductor Metal
The main properties that we should be with a conductor are listed as follows:
A conductor that always allows the movement of free ions and electrons.
The field which is said to be the electric field that is inside a conductor must be zero to permit the ions or the electrons to move through the conductor.
The Charge density which is inside a conductor that is zero and that is the negative and positive charges that cancel inside a conductor.
As we already know that there is no charge inside the conductor that only free charges can exist that too only on the surface of a conductor.
The field which is said to be the electric field is perpendicular to the surface of that conductor.
The Solid Conductor
The Metallic Conductor: the Silver, and the Copper, and the Aluminum, Gold etc.
The Non Metallic Conductor: the Graphite
The Alloy Conductor: the Brass, Bronze etc.
The Liquid Conductor
The Metallic Conductor: the Mercury
The Non Metallic Conductor: the Saline Water and the Acid Solution etc.
A current which is carried as the conductor at any instance is with zero charge. It is so because at any instance the number of electrons or we can say that at drift velocity it is equal to the number of protons that are in this conductor. So the net charge which is zero.
We can Suppose that a conductor is connected with or across a battery, that is the positive end and the negative end are connected with a conductor. Now we will notice that the flow of the electrons that are through the conductor are from negative end to positive end of the battery. This flow which we have discussed is electrons is possible until this battery has EMF that has the producing capability through chemical reaction inside.
FAQs on Electrical Conductors
1. What is an electrical conductor?
An electrical conductor is a material that allows electric current to flow through it easily. This is possible because conductors contain mobile charged particles. In metals, these particles are free electrons, while in solutions like salt water (electrolytes), they are ions. When a voltage is applied across a conductor, these charges move, creating a flow of current.
2. What are some common examples of electrical conductors?
Electrical conductors can be found in various forms. Here are some common examples:
- Metals: Silver, copper, gold, aluminum, and iron are excellent metallic conductors.
- Alloys: Brass (an alloy of copper and zinc) and bronze (an alloy of copper and tin) are also good conductors.
- Non-Metals: Graphite is a notable non-metallic solid that conducts electricity.
- Electrolytes: Saline water and acidic solutions conduct electricity due to the movement of ions.
3. What are the key properties of an electrical conductor according to physics?
An ideal electrical conductor exhibits several key electrostatic properties as per the CBSE/NCERT syllabus:
- Zero Electric Field Inside: The net electrostatic field inside a conductor in equilibrium is zero. Any external field is cancelled out by the rearrangement of free charges.
- Charge Resides on the Surface: Any net charge given to a conductor resides entirely on its outer surface.
- Zero Charge Density Inside: Consequently, the charge density inside the conductor is zero.
- Constant Potential: The electric potential is constant throughout the volume of the conductor and has the same value on its surface.
- Perpendicular Electric Field: The electric field at the surface of a charged conductor is always perpendicular to the surface at every point.
4. How do electrical conductors differ from insulators and semiconductors?
The primary difference between conductors, insulators, and semiconductors lies in their ability to conduct electricity, which is determined by their energy band structure.
- Conductors: Have a large number of free electrons because their valence and conduction bands overlap. This allows electrons to move freely with very little energy.
- Insulators: Have a very large energy gap between the valence and conduction bands. Electrons are tightly bound and cannot move to the conduction band to carry current. Examples include rubber, glass, and wood.
- Semiconductors: Have a small energy gap. At absolute zero, they act as insulators. However, with a small amount of energy (like from heat), electrons can jump to the conduction band, allowing for a limited flow of current. Examples include silicon and germanium.
5. Why is copper, and not the best conductor silver, most commonly used for electrical wires?
This is a practical consideration based on a trade-off between performance and cost. While silver is the most conductive metal, it is also very expensive and less abundant. Copper, on the other hand, offers an excellent balance. It is the second most conductive metal, highly ductile (can be easily drawn into wires), corrosion-resistant, and significantly more affordable than silver. This combination of properties makes copper the ideal and standard choice for most electrical wiring applications.
6. How do free electrons enable conductivity in metals?
In metallic conductors, the atoms are arranged in a crystal lattice. The outermost electrons, or valence electrons, are not tightly bound to individual atoms. Instead, they detach and form a 'sea' of free electrons that can move throughout the entire metal. When an electric field is applied (e.g., by connecting a battery), these free electrons experience a force and begin to move collectively in a specific direction, known as drift velocity. This directed flow of millions of electrons constitutes an electric current.
