Any material that allows the flow of charge in one or more directions is called a conductor of electricity. Metals are the most common conductors of electricity, but other materials like polymers, and inorganic materials are also known to conduct electricity. Based on the ease of conduction of electric charges, materials can be divided into good and poor conductors of electricity.
What are poor conductors of electricity?
A conductor of electricity is any material that allows the flow of electric charge in any direction. Based on the ease of the flow of electric charges, conductors can be classified as good conductors, semi-conductors, and poor conductors of electricity. Materials made of metals are the most common examples of good conductors of electricity. Semiconductors include materials like silicon, semiconducting polymers, etc. Poor conductor of electricity includes materials like polymers, plastic, wood, glass, etc. Some conducting polymers like poly(aniline) are shown to conduct electricity to some extent so they can be included in the class of semi-conducting materials.
The current flowing through a material is governed by ohm’s law, which states that the current flowing through a material is directly proportional to the potential difference at a constant temperature. The resistance of a material can be calculated by Ohm’s law. V = IR. The resistance value gives us the measure of resistance to the flow of electric charge through the material. Good conductors have very less resistance, and poor conductors of electricity have very high resistance. For example, plastics have a resistivity range around 10 10 – 10 20 ohm-cm. Resistivity is the constant value to measure resistance independent of shape or size.
List of poor conductors of electricity
Here is a list of examples of poor conductors of electricity:
- Glass
- Air
- Mica
- Paper
- plastics
- rubber
- Teflon
- wood etc.
Uses of poor conductors of electricity:
- Insulation of electrical wires and circuits. This helps to protect us from any unwanted shocks. You can read about the grounding of electrical devices at home.
- Protection from electric shock or electrocution. For example, wearing rubber slippers or gloves can protect us from minor shocks.
- Two electrical conductors can be separated electrically by the use of an insulator(poor conductor) like rubber etc.
- It protects from electric shock or electrocution.
- It allows the soundproofing of appliances.
Applications of poor conductors of electricity :
- Circuit boards
- Coating of electric wires
- High voltage appliances
- Protection equipment
- Coating of cables
- Coating for electric poles on the streets
