Identifying Conductors and Insulator With Simple Experiment

If you have been reading my previous posts about the conductors and insulators then you should probably have your own idea on how to test them. But for those new visitors or guest of this blog, here's what you need to know about conductors and insulators.

Conductors

These are any types of materials where an electric current can freely flow. Such common materials are copper, metal, steel and gold.

Inductors

Inductors are the complete opposite of the conductors wherein an electric current is not capable of passing-through. Such common materials are plastic, ceramic, wood and rubber.

Here are the following materials that you need on this simple experiment:

3 Pieces of Plastic Coated Wires

You will need exactly three pieces of plastic coated wires with an approximate length of 20 cm long. Each of the wires must be properly trimmed to expose their bare ends.

Screwdriver

This tool is to be used for tightening the two screws on the bulb-holder.

4.5 Volt Battery

You can actually use slightly higher or lower voltage battery but it is important that the bulb to be used meets the required rating of the battery's power.

4.5 Volt Bulb with a Bulb Holder

Take note, the battery's voltage must be equal to the voltage rating of the bulb.

Collection of Various Objects

Collect objects such as toothbrush, coins, ruler, nail, paper and etc...

Procedure on Conductor and Insulator Experiment

Step 1: Connect the two pieces of wires on the bulb's bulb-holder. Ensure that bare ends of the two wires are tightly clipped on the bulb-holder by tightening the screws with the screwdriver.

Step 2: After connecting the two pieces of wires on the bulb, connect one of the wire into one of the battery's terminal.

Step 3: Connect the third unused wire into the other battery terminal and you are done.

Step 4: Time to test if your tool works. Try to connect the bare ends of the two loose wire and the bulb should light up. If it doesn't then you have to go over through your connections.

Step 5: You are now ready to test the objects that you have collected to determine if they are a conductor or insulator. 

What you have to do is to take an object from your set of collection then connect one of the bare end of the loose wire into one end of the object being tested. 

Then connect the other bare end of the second loose wire into the other end of the object.

Two Outcome of your Test Result:

1. If the object tested made the bulb light up then that object is a conductor.

2. If the objected that has been tested does not make the bulb light up then it is an insulator.