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Electrical Conductors - Types, Examples, Properties, FAQs

Electrical Conductors - Types, Examples, Properties, FAQs

Team Careers360Updated on 02 Jul 2025, 04:58 PM IST

Have you ever thought about why it is always suggested that you wear rubber slippers while handling electric circuits? The answer to this question would be because it is a Conductor. Conductors are the materials that allow easy flow of heat and electric current to pass through them. In this article, we will discuss about conductor. In this topic, we’ll discuss various conductors including metallic, non-metallic, and superconductors. We will also be seeing about the properties which make conductors suitable to use in certain cases.

This Story also Contains

  1. What is Conductor?
  2. Types of Conductor
  3. Properties of Conductor
  4. Test Your Knowledge
Electrical Conductors - Types, Examples, Properties, FAQs
electric conductor(Image: shutterstock)

What is Conductor?

An electrical conductor is a substance that allows the heat and Electric Current to pass through it easily. Atoms in conductors are arranged in the manner that it easily allows the outer electrons to move freely from one atom to another, which helps in creating the path of electric current and heat movement.

Conductors are majorly used in systems where transfer of energy is needed like electric wiring and electric circuits.

Examples-
Copper is a good conductor of electricity, Aluminium, and Salt water, are some other examples of conductors.

Also read -

Commonly Asked Questions

Q: What is an electrical conductor?
A:
An electrical conductor is a material that allows electric current to flow easily through it. These materials have a large number of free electrons that can move freely within the material, enabling the flow of electricity. Common examples include metals like copper, aluminum, and gold.
Q: How do conductors differ from insulators?
A:
Conductors allow electric current to flow easily, while insulators resist the flow of electricity. The main difference lies in their atomic structure: conductors have loosely bound outer electrons that can move freely, whereas insulators have tightly bound electrons that cannot move easily.
Q: How does the atomic structure of a material determine its conductivity?
A:
The atomic structure determines conductivity by influencing the availability and mobility of charge carriers (usually electrons). Materials with loosely bound outer electrons (like metals) are good conductors. Those with tightly bound electrons or few free electrons (like insulators) are poor conductors.
Q: What is electrical resistivity, and how does it relate to conductivity?
A:
Electrical resistivity is a measure of how strongly a material opposes the flow of electric current. It's the inverse of conductivity – materials with low resistivity are good conductors, while those with high resistivity are poor conductors or insulators.
Q: What is the role of free electrons in electrical conduction?
A:
Free electrons are crucial for electrical conduction in metals. These are electrons in the outermost shell of atoms that are loosely bound and can move freely within the material. When an electric field is applied, these free electrons move in a directed manner, creating an electric current.

Types of Conductor


Conductors are classified into different types based on their properties and uses. Some majorly used types are discussed below:

1. Metallic Conductor: These are the materials in which the flow of electricity is carried by the electrons which are found within the metal. Commonly used in electrical wiring, and circuits.

Examples of Metallic Conductor of Electricity- Copper, Silver, Aluminum and Gold.

2. Non-metallic Conductor: These are substances of low conductivity and of non-metallic nature in which the electric current is conducted through ions or ions and free electrons. Used in specialized electronic applications and battery technologies.

Example- Graphite and conductive polymers.

3. Ionic Conductor (Electrolytes): Electricity flows in this type of conductor with the help of movement of ions, when melted or dissolved in water. Present in batteries, electrolysis processes and biological systems.

Example- Saltwater, molten sodium chloride, and various electrolyte solutions.

4. Superconductors: These are the materials which conduct electricity without resistance when it cool down at a very low temperature. Utilized in MRI machines, particle accelerators and other high-tech applications where energy loss must be minimized.

Example- Certain alloys and ceramics, like niobium-titanium (NbTi) or yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO).

5. Semiconductors: These materials have a property of electrical conductivity between conductors and insulators. It can be adjusted by doping (adding impurities) or by applying voltage, heat, or light. Common in electronics and used in the construction of transistors, diodes, and integrated circuits.

Example- Silicon, germanium, and gallium arsenide.

Let's look at some more types of conductors in brief:

Perfect conductors: Perfect conductor has zero resistance and requires a constant magnetic flux. The magnetic field in an ideal conductor is zero or non-zero.

Good Conductor: Good Conductors are materials through which electricity or heat flows freely. This is because it has free electrons that are able to move around, and do carry energy with them all the time.

Commonly Asked Questions

Q: How do semiconductors differ from conductors?
A:
Semiconductors have electrical conductivity between that of conductors and insulators. Unlike conductors, their conductivity can be controlled by introducing impurities (doping) or applying external fields. This property makes semiconductors crucial for electronic devices like transistors and diodes.
Q: Can water conduct electricity?
A:
Pure water is actually a poor conductor of electricity. However, water we encounter in daily life usually contains dissolved minerals and impurities, which make it conductive. It's these dissolved ions that allow water to conduct electricity, not the H2O molecules themselves.
Q: Can plastics conduct electricity?
A:
Most plastics are insulators and do not conduct electricity. However, some specially designed conductive plastics exist. These are usually created by adding conductive materials like carbon or metal particles to the plastic, or through chemical modifications that allow for electron movement within the plastic structure.
Q: Can gases conduct electricity?
A:
Under normal conditions, gases are poor conductors of electricity because their atoms or molecules are far apart and electrons are tightly bound. However, gases can become conductive under certain conditions, such as high voltage (causing ionization) or high temperature (creating a plasma state).
Q: What is the difference between electrical and thermal conductivity?
A:
Electrical conductivity refers to a material's ability to conduct electric current, while thermal conductivity is its ability to conduct heat. Although many good electrical conductors are also good thermal conductors (like metals), the two properties are not always directly related. For example, diamond is an excellent thermal conductor but a poor electrical conductor.

Properties of Conductor


The conductors have their unique characteristics which qualify them to transmit electricity or heat current. Here are the key properties:

  • High Electrical Conductivity: Atoms in conductors are arranged in a way that it allows free movement of electrons which helps in conducting electricity easily.
  • Ductility and Malleability: Most of the conductors like the metals are mostly ductile and malleable, they are easily shaped into wires or even beaten without snapping. These make them suitable for wiring uses as well as industrial purposes.
  • Shiny or Metallic Luster: The shiny appearance of many conductors is due to the fact that they reflect light. This is because free electrons can absorb and re-emit photons.
  • Positive Temperature Coefficient of Resistance: Most of the metallic conductors exhibit a positive temperature coefficient of resistance which means that when they are heated they become slightly less conductive.
  • Ability to Allow Free Electron Flow: Conductors possess free electrons in metals and in electrolytes, they have free ions that will flow an electric current.
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Are Conductors Magnetic Substances?

All conductors of electricity are not magnetic substances. Some of the electric conductors like iron, nickel, cobalt, etc. are made up of magnetic substances, they are ferromagnetic. But some of the electrical conductors like gold, silver, copper, aluminum, etc. are not attracted by magnets. So we can say all conductors of electricity are not magnetic substances.

How Electric Current Flows in Metallic Conductor?

We know that metal is made up of atoms. Every atom has a negative charge particle known as an electron. When we apply an electric field to the metallic conductor ( copper, silver, aluminum, etc, ) then the flow of (electrons) electric charge in a metallic conductor and current starts to flow.

Related Topics


What is the best conductor of electricity?


Best electricity conductors are those who conduct electricity easily. The best conductors of electricity are copper, aluminum, iron, gold, silver, and, mercury, etc,. Let's understand the properties of copper, good conductor of electricity in detail.

Copper: Copper was the most preferred material in earlier days but due to its high cost, it is replaced by aluminum. Because aluminum is cheaper than copper and it also has a lower weight. Some of the Properties of Copper are discussed below.

  • It has high conductivity and greater tensile strength.
  • Copper is non-magnetic metal and has good physical, chemical, and electrical properties.
  • Copper has free electrons in its outer orbital shell due to this it is the best conductor of electricity.
  • Copper can easily be soldered and welded.
  • Copper is durable and has a high scrap value, but because of its high cost and non-availability copper is rarely utilized in transmission lines.

Commonly Asked Questions

Q: Why are metals generally good conductors of electricity?
A:
Metals are good conductors because they have a crystal lattice structure with delocalized electrons. These "free" electrons can move easily through the metal when an electric field is applied, allowing for the flow of electric current.
Q: What is the best electrical conductor?
A:
Silver is the best electrical conductor among all elements. It has the lowest electrical resistivity. However, due to its high cost, copper is more commonly used in electrical applications as it offers excellent conductivity at a lower price.
Q: How does temperature affect the conductivity of metals?
A:
In general, as temperature increases, the conductivity of metals decreases. This is because higher temperatures cause more vibrations in the metal's crystal lattice, which increases collisions between electrons and atoms, impeding the flow of current.
Q: What is superconductivity?
A:
Superconductivity is a phenomenon where certain materials, when cooled below a critical temperature, conduct electricity with zero resistance. This allows for the flow of electric current without any energy loss, which has significant implications for energy efficiency and advanced technologies.
Q: Why is copper widely used in electrical wiring?
A:
Copper is widely used in electrical wiring because it combines excellent conductivity with other beneficial properties. It's relatively inexpensive compared to silver, has good ductility (can be drawn into wires), resists corrosion, and has a high melting point, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

Test Your Knowledge

1- Among the materials which is a good conductor of electricity?

I) Plastic

II) Mica

III) Glass

IV) Copper

Answer-

copper

2- Metals are conductors of electricity. (True/False)

Answer-

True

3- Which of the following sentence is/are correct?

i) Copper is an insulator

ii) Copper is a Conductor

iii) Wood is a good Conductor of electricity.

Answer-

Only i) is correct

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the difference between bulk and surface conductivity?
A:
Bulk conductivity refers to the ability of a material to conduct electricity throughout its entire volume, while surface conductivity relates to conduction along the surface of a material. In some materials, especially at the nanoscale or in certain classes of materials like topological insulators, surface conductivity can be significantly different from bulk conductivity, leading to unique electrical properties.
Q: How does the concept of mean free path relate to electrical conductivity?
A:
The mean free path is the average distance an electron travels between collisions in a conductor. A longer mean free path generally results in higher conductivity, as electrons can move more freely. Factors that reduce the mean free path, like impurities or lattice vibrations, tend to decrease conductivity.
Q: What is the Drude model of electrical conduction, and what are its limitations?
A:
The Drude model describes electrical conduction in metals by treating electrons as a gas of freely moving particles. While it successfully explains many aspects of conductivity, it has limitations. It doesn't account for quantum mechanical effects, electron-electron interactions, or the detailed band structure of materials.
Q: How do amorphous conductors differ from crystalline conductors?
A:
Amorphous conductors lack the long-range order found in crystalline materials. This disorder typically results in lower conductivity compared to their crystalline counterparts, as the irregular structure increases electron scattering. However, some amorphous materials, like certain metallic glasses, can still be good conductors.
Q: What is the role of dimensionality in electrical conduction?
A:
Dimensionality refers to the number of dimensions in which charge carriers can move freely. 3D bulk materials, 2D sheets (like graphene), 1D nanowires, and 0D quantum dots each have unique conduction properties. Reduced dimensionality can lead to quantum confinement effects, altering electronic and conductive properties.
Q: How do topological insulators conduct electricity?
A:
Topological insulators are materials that are insulators in their bulk but conduct electricity on their surface. This unique behavior arises from their electronic band structure, which forces the existence of conducting surface states. These materials combine properties of both insulators and conductors in a single material.
Q: What is the Kondo effect, and how does it impact conductivity?
A:
The Kondo effect is a phenomenon where at low temperatures, magnetic impurities in a metal can cause an increase in electrical resistance. This occurs due to the interaction between the magnetic moments of the impurities and the conduction electrons, leading to complex scattering processes that affect conductivity.
Q: How does the Fermi level relate to electrical conductivity?
A:
The Fermi level is the highest occupied energy level in a material at absolute zero temperature. Its position relative to the conduction and valence bands is crucial in determining a material's conductivity. In metals, the Fermi level lies within a band, allowing for easy electron excitation and high conductivity.
Q: What is ballistic conduction, and when does it occur?
A:
Ballistic conduction occurs when electrons travel through a material without scattering. This happens in very pure materials or at very small scales where the device dimensions are smaller than the electron mean free path. Ballistic conduction can lead to very high conductivity and is important in nanoelectronics.
Q: How do charge density waves affect electrical conductivity?
A:
Charge density waves are periodic modulations of electron density in certain materials. They can significantly affect conductivity, often leading to a decrease as they can 'pin' electrons, reducing their mobility. Understanding charge density waves is important in the study of certain types of superconductors and other exotic electronic materials.
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