Metals, such as copper and silver, can become charged by induction, while plastic materials cannot.
2007-03-27 04:20:40 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Because of the way they share their electrons. Metals share their electrons between atoms, which allows for them to be manipulated easier.
Polymers do not move their electrons around so easily, which is why they are used as insulation.
2007-03-27 04:25:46 · answer #1 · answered by poseidenneptune 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The furthest away the last electron shell is, having a single electron in that shell, or orbit, the better the induction. Plastic doesn't have that and thus makes a sort of good insulator.
2007-03-27 04:25:26 · answer #2 · answered by madbaldscotsman 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
metals are conductors and allow the charge to travel along their lenght. Plastics do not conduct electric charge and so it would just stay on the one atom it was applied to.
2007-03-27 04:29:32 · answer #3 · answered by lexie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋