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A student was asked to test electrical conduction in paper, copper, silver and plastic and conclude which of these materials were electrical conductors and which were insulators - Junior Cycle Science - Question b - 2016
Question b
A student was asked to test electrical conduction in paper, copper, silver and plastic and conclude which of these materials were electrical conductors and which wer... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A student was asked to test electrical conduction in paper, copper, silver and plastic and conclude which of these materials were electrical conductors and which were insulators - Junior Cycle Science - Question b - 2016
Step 1
Draw a labelled diagram of the set up (circuit) the student could use
Answer
To set up the experiment, we will draw a simple circuit consisting of a battery, a bulb (or LED), and a gap in the circuit where the material to be tested can be placed. Below is the description of the labeled diagram:
- Battery: Provides the electrical energy to the circuit.
- Bulb/LED: Indicates whether the material conducts electricity by lighting up when a conductor is placed in the gap.
- Gap/Sample: This is where the sample material (paper, copper, silver, plastic) will be connected to the circuit. If the material is a conductor, the bulb will light up.
The circuit diagram can be represented as follows:
+---[ BULB ]---+
| |
[BATTERY] [GAP/SAMPLE]
| |
+---------------+
A correct working drawing would illustrate these components correctly, ensuring at least one is labeled.
Step 2
Based on the circuit you drew above, how could you tell which materials were electrical conductors?
Answer
To determine which materials are electrical conductors, observe the behavior of the bulb in the circuit:
- If the bulb lights up when a material is placed in the gap, this indicates that the material is a conductor. This means electricity is flowing through the circuit.
- Conversely, if the bulb does not light up, the material is likely an insulator, indicating that electricity cannot flow through it.