EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION 30.4 How can we test if a material is a conductor or an insulator?
Equipment Wires Crocodile clips Power supply (battery of 6–12 V rating) Bulb Resistor
Suggested materials to test Copper Graphite, e.g. the ‘lead’ of a pencil Glass Wood Paperclip
SAFETY • Be careful of sharp ends on the wires.
• Do not set the power supply too high (check with your teacher before turning the circuit on).
Method 1. Set up the apparatus for the circuit shown in Fig. 30.19. 2. Attach the crocodile clips to each end of the material to be tested. 3. Note whether the bulb lights or not after the clips are connected. 4. Record your results for each material tested.
Power supply
Rubber Saltwater
Wires
Bulb
Crocodile clips :Fig. 30.19 Circuit to test if a material is a conductor or an insulator j Go to page 92 of your Experimental Investigations Log to write up this investigation.
CONCENTRATE! The differences between current, voltage and resistance are summarised in the following table:
Current Measured in amps (A) Voltage (potential difference) Measured in volts (V) Measured using an ammeter Measured using a voltmeter Resistance
Flow of charge through the wire Pushes electrons through the wire Opposes flow of electrons through the wire
Measured in ohms (Ω) Measured using an ohmmeter Elements of Science 299