Lesson 7 of 8 · Forces
Experiment⭐ 30 XP⚡ Spark LabConductors and Insulators
Conductors and Insulators.
🎯 Your mission
Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.
⚡ The twist
The opposite of what you expect is often what happens.
Mind = Blown
🎢 You feel weightless on a roller coaster because you and the seat are falling at the same speed.
Make a hypothesis first
Predict: what happens if you double the force?
What You'll Learn
Metals let current pass because their electrons can move; plastic, wood, glass and rubber do not. That is exactly why wires are copper inside and plastic outside — one carries the current, the other keeps it where it belongs.
Key Words
Tap a word to see its definition.
Materials Needed
- cell
- bulb and holder
- leads
- test materials
Safety First
- Low-voltage cell only, and never test anything plugged into the mains.
Steps
Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.
Put a gap in a working circuit and bridge it with ten different materials in turn. Record which light the bulb and sort them into conductors and insulators.
Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.
Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2Which is an electrical insulator?
Where you see this in real life
You use this every time you flip a light switch, ride a bike, or kick a ball.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Time how long a small ball rolls down something, then change the slope and try again.
For the dinner table
“Show me something at home that uses this kind of energy.”
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Conductors and Insulators
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