UTILITIES 1 - Conductors, insulators, & semiconductors

Conductors

__ are materials that carry electric current with minimal resistance.

Classical Theory

__: Electrons in metals, move freely from one atom to another.

Insulators

__ resist the flow of electricity, making it difficult for electrons to move freely.

Semiconductors

__ have electrical properties between conductors and insulators

Silver (the best), copper, gold, and aluminum

Examples of Conductors

Nonmetallic elements such as glass, rubber, plastic, ceramics

Examples of Insulators

Silicon (most common), germanium.

Examples of Semiconductors

Static Electricity from Friction

Thermoelectricity

Piezoelectricity

Electrochemistry

Photoelectricity

Magnetoelectricity

six primary ways to force current to move through a conductor

Static Electricity from Friction

Rubbing two materials together produces static electricity. Friction caused heat energy, freeing electrons from one material and transferring them to another material

thermocouple

When two dissimilar metals are joined and heated, a thermoelectric charge is created. The device that utilizes this effect is called a __.

Piezoelectricity

__ is electricity generated from pressure. Certain crystalline materials produce a charge when a force deforms them.

Electrochemistry

Electricity can be produced through chemical reactions. A galvanic reaction occurs when two dissimilar metals are placed in certain chemical solutions, producing opposite charges

Photoelectricity

Electricity can be generated from light. Photons, (small particles of light) strike a material and releases energy, causing electrons to be released, producing an opposite charge.

Magnetoelectricity

Electricity generated from magnetism. Moving a conductor through a magnetic field causes electrons to move in one direction.