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Insulator Definition

An insulator is a material that electricity cannot easily flow through. For example, plastic coating on wires stops electricity transfer.

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Electricity & Circuits

LESSON MATERIALSmove

Fun Facts

  • Wood, rubber, and glass are examples of insulators.
  • Wires in electronic devices are usually wrapped in a plastic insulator to prevent the energy from being transferred.
  • Insulators could be put around power lines to prevent birds and other animals from being shocked.

Why Do We Need To Know About Insulator

Learning about insulators helps you understand how they keep us safe and why they’re important for things like kitchen appliances. For example, the plastic on electric wires stops you from getting shocked, showing how insulators are used to keep electricity under control.

This is really useful for jobs in electrical engineering. Engineers use this knowledge to make all sorts of things, from electric cars to artificial limbs, proving how insulators are key in lots of modern inventions that help people.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is electricity?
Electricity is the flow of electrical energy from one place to another.
Why is a closed circuit needed for electricity to power our electronics?
For electricity to flow, it needs a closed path from the source, through a conductor, and back to the source.
What would be an advantage of a series circuit? Of a parallel circuit?
In a series circuit, you could turn on and off all the lights or devices at the same time, instead of turning each one on and off separately. In a parallel circuit, each light or device has its own path to the source, so you can control each one separately. If one light or device goes out, the other devices in the circuit are not affected.
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