2006-12-16 01:34:42 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
Conductors are materials that contain movable charges of electricity. When an electric potential difference is impressed across separate points on a conductor, the mobile charges within the conductor are forced to move, and an electric current between those points appears in accordance with Ohm's law. While many conductors are metallic, there are many non-metallic conductors as well, including all plasmas. See electrical conduction for more information on the physical mechanism for charge flow in materials.
Under normal conditions, all materials offer some resistance to flowing charges, which generates heat. Thus, proper design of an electrical conductor includes an estimate of the temperature that the conductor is expected to endure without damage, as well as the quantity of electrical current. The motion of charges also creates an electromagnetic field around the conductor that exerts a mechanical radial squeezing force on the conductor. A conductor of a given material and volume (length x cross-sectional area) has no real limit to the current it can carry without being destroyed as long as the heat generated by the resistive loss is removed and the conductor can withstand the radial forces. This effect is especially critical in printed circuits, where conductors are relatively small and the heat produced, if not properly removed, can cause fusing (melting) of the tracks.
Non-conducting materials lack mobile charges and are called insulators. A material can be an electrical conductor without being a thermal conductor, although a metal can be both an electrical conductor and a thermal conductor. Electrically conductive materials are usually classified according to their electrical resistance; ranging from high to null resistance, there are semiconductors, ordinary metallic conductors (also called normal metals), and superconductors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conductor_(material)
http://www.answers.com/topic/conductor
2006-12-16 06:18:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
In science and engineering, conductors are materials that contain movable charges of electricity. When an electric potential difference is impressed across separate points on a conductor, the mobile charges within the conductor are forced to move, and an electric current between those points appears in accordance with Ohm's law. While many conductors are metallic, there are many non-metallic conductors as well, including all plasmas. See electrical conduction for more information on the physical mechanism for charge flow in materials.
2006-12-16 01:37:41 · answer #2 · answered by DanE 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
most metals and water are conductors of electricity, that is electricity can pass through from a power source to generate electricity. People can also be conductors if there is contact with the ground WARNING:Contact with raw conductors will light you up in the bright of day!
2006-12-16 02:52:10 · answer #3 · answered by element_op 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
conductors are materials conducting or carrying electricity or heat. silver is the best conductor of heat. graphite is a good conductor of electricity. normally metals are good conductors of heat and electricity{graphite is an exception}.
2006-12-16 03:14:23 · answer #4 · answered by Steve 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
the metals which conducts electricity is called as conductor
eg. iron, aluminium etc
2006-12-17 08:13:06 · answer #5 · answered by anu 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
omg here's your sign...
2006-12-16 01:36:17 · answer #6 · answered by bossman 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋