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🔩 Conductors and Insulators

Some materials let electricity flow through them, and some block it. Find out why metals are conductors, why plastic and rubber are insulators, and how wires cleverly use both.

lessons

~15 min

to learn

🔬 Science

subject

Ages 6–12

level

Start the course →

What you’ll learn

What Are Conductors?Understand that conductors let electricity flow through them and that metals are the best conductors.Conductors are materials that let electricity flow through them easily. Metals such as copper, steel, and gold are the best conductors, which is why the inside of every wire is made of metal. You can test a material by putting it in a circuit and seeing if the bulb lights.
What Are Insulators?Understand that insulators block electricity and name everyday insulators like plastic, rubber, wood, and glass.Insulators are materials that do not let electricity flow through them. Plastic, rubber, wood, and glass are all insulators, so they leave a circuit dark. Insulators keep electricity where it belongs and help keep us safe.
Using Both TogetherExplain how wires use a conductor inside and an insulator outside, and why materials are chosen for their jobs.A wire uses both a conductor and an insulator. Metal inside, usually copper, carries the electricity, while the plastic coating outside is an insulator that keeps us safe. Copper is chosen because it conducts well and is cheap. Insulators like plastic and rubber protect us from electricity everywhere.

Questions this course answers

What is a conductor?

A conductor is a material that lets electricity flow through it easily, like copper.

Which group of materials are the best conductors?

Metals like copper, steel, and gold are the best conductors, which is why wires use metal inside.

What happens if you put an insulator in a gap in a circuit?

An insulator blocks electricity, so no current flows and the bulb stays dark.

Which of these is an insulator?

Plastic is an insulator, so a plastic ruler blocks electricity. The metal items are all conductors.

Why does a wire have a plastic coating around the metal inside?

The plastic is an insulator that keeps the electricity inside the wire and stops it reaching our hands.

Why is copper chosen for most wires instead of gold?

Copper conducts electricity very well and is far cheaper than gold, so it is used in most wires.

Grounded in trusted sources

BBC Bitesize
Britannica Kids
The Physics Classroom
Khan Academy

Every Wunder lesson is built from real, reputable sources — never invented.

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