What is the difference of insulators and conductors?

Insulators and conductors are materials that differ in their ability to transport electrical current. Here's the key difference between insulators and conductors:

Conductors:

- Definition: Conductors are materials that allow the easy flow of electric current.

- Properties:

- Low Resistance: Conductors have low resistance to the flow of electrons.

- Free Electrons: Conductors have an abundance of loosely bound electrons, known as free electrons. These free electrons can easily move and carry electric charge.

- Metals: Most conductors are metals, such as copper, aluminum, silver, and gold.

- Examples: Common examples of conductors include wires used in electrical circuits, metal utensils, coins, and metal pipes.

Insulators:

- Definition: Insulators are materials that resist the flow of electric current.

- Properties:

- High Resistance: Insulators have high resistance to the flow of electrons.

- Bound Electrons: Insulators have tightly bound electrons that are not easily displaced from their atoms, making it difficult for electric charge to move.

- Non-Metals: Insulators are typically non-metallic substances.

- Examples: Examples of insulators include rubber, plastic, glass, wood, and ceramics.

In summary, conductors allow for the easy flow of electric current, while insulators prevent the flow of electric current. The difference lies in the ability of materials to freely move electrons. Conductors have abundant free electrons, while insulators have tightly bound electrons that resist movement.