i have a bet with my husband on this question. i need help finding the right answer?

Question

Wires are often covered with____________, because this material is a good conductor.

I say it is tungsten, he says it is copper

this question is on my 4th grade sons home work. i put it exactly as it is written on his worksheet

Answer 1

Tungsten has at least three times the melting point of copper, and they are both conductors, but when it comes to electricity, Copper is the winner, because Tungsten has more resistance to electricity therefore it is less conductive than Copper.

Tungsten due to its resistance is used in Light bulbs,
and copper, which is more malleble is used in mostly covering wires.

Hope it helps,

Answer 2

There isn't a right answer, because the question is badly formed. Five or six answerers so far have taken this view. Neither you nor your husband should win the bet.

Possible correctly-formed statements similar to the one given would be:

1. Wires are often made of copper, because this material is a good conductor.
2. Wires are nearly always covered with plastic, because this material is a good insulator.

Copper wires are occasionally thinly covered in tin, for resistance to corrosion, or in gold as stated by another answerer to improve their conductivity at high frequencies, but that would still be followed by an insulated covering.

Answer 3

Most wires are simply copper covered with an insulator. Some older phone lines are aluminium.

It is rare to do anything special to the conducting wire. The one exception is for high frequency signals that need high quality transmission where the wires may be covered with gold. Gold is a better conductor than copper, and high frequency signals only travel in the surface of the wire so this is worthwhile (low frequency or DC travels through the bulk, so coating would have little effect). This is why top quality video leads have gold plated pins.

Answer 4

While tungsten and copper is a good conductor, Copper is the most practical way to cover wires.

Copper is easily malleable and can be formed into wires and its a good conductor. Tungsten is usually used in the filament in light bulbs

Answer 5

Depends on what the wire is used for. Generally for wires not too long, it is siver, which is the best conductor. However, aluminum wires for power distribution may be covered with copper. Copper is a better conductor than aluminum, and silver is too expensive for very long runs. Tunsten would not be used since it is a poorer conductor than copper and is more expensive. It is also difficult to plate, as it is brittle and can flake off.

Answer 6

I am sorry to tell you. Your husband is correct. Wires are more often covered in Copper than Tungsten even though Tungsten is the better conductor. Tungsten is waaay more expensive.

Answer 7

Actually there is something wrong with the question. Wires are themselves made of copper of steel or aluminium all of which are good conductors. However, they are covered with Plastic which is not a good conductor for insulation.

Answer 8

Cu - Copper. Copper is one of the best conductors of electricity. Tungsten is actually a poor conductor i.e. it has higher resistance - that is why it is used in light bulbs. 110 volts makes it shine brightly.

Answer 9

Maybe I don't understand the question, but wires are covered with insulation, which is a nonconductor. If the wire was covered with, yet, another conductor it would arc. The wire itself, usually made of copper or aluminum, is the conductor.

Answer 10

I would have thought that you'd want to cover wires with an insulator so you don't get zapped to death! In which case rubber is often used coz its a good insulator.

On the other hand, for good conductivity, silver wires are better than copper but it's more expensive. Aluminium is good for some uses, but not all applications. But I'm not sure what you mean about "covered" though...

PS. tungsten is used in light globes not for better conductivity, but for its higher melting point.