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Can you use an aluminium wire instead of copper for a simple electrical circuit?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Yes, you can use an aluminum wire. Aluminum does conduct electricity. However, there is a well-known problem with aluminum wire. When exposed to air, the outer layer of aluminum forms a non-conductive oxide. There is resistance to the flow of electricity as it attempts to get through the aluminum oxide coating to the conductive aluminum below.
When aluminum wire is used to reduce weight, it is usually welded to another metal that makes a better contact, such as copper. The contact metal is then what is connected.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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What metal is good for electrical wiring?
For most applications ... where the wire has no function other than to join the components that accomplish the purpose of the circuit ... the best metal to use for wiring would be the one with the smallest resistivity. That would be silver. A big part of the reason that we usually settle for copper is because it is only second best as a conductor and is a lot less expensive than silver.
What is the best reason that copper gold and silver are often used in electrical wiring?
Of the metal elements, the three named in the question all have very good conductivity properties. Four metals that are associated with electricity starting from the best are, silver, copper, gold and then aluminium. Cost rules out the first and third in the list leaving copper and aluminium as the most common conductors used the electrical trade today.
Which material wood or copper would you infer to be best for use in making an electrical circuit?
I need help
What is an aluminium bronze?
An aluminium bronze is an alloy of copper containing 5 percent to 10 percent aluminium.
What is aluminum and copper's reaction?
Nothing, they simply form a mixture in molten state. A mixture of 10% Aluminium in copper is Aluminium bronze.
Do aluminium and iron both conduct electricity?
Aluminium is a good thermal and electrical conductor, having 62% the conductivity of copper...
Why does an electrical circuit have a copper wire?
If you mean a bare copper wire, that is the "ground" wire.
What is metal usually used for?
Copper is frequently used for electrical wires. Aluminium is cheaper but breakable.
Will a copper penny complete an electricity circuit?
Yes. Copper is a very good conductor. But a penny is not a safe device to include in an electrical circuit.
When one terminal of the cell is joined by copper wire to the one terminal of bulband another terminal of cell with aluminium wire to the other terminal of bulb. Will the bulb glow Give reason for yo?
Both copper and aluminium wire will conduct electricity, so the bulb will glow. Aluminium is less efficient at conducting than copper. Copper-clad aluminium wire is electrical wire coated with a thin layer of copper.
Is aluminium used for water pipes and electrical wires?
Aluminium is not used for water pipes. It's not as elastic as Copper. Because aluminium is less expensive than copper, it is sometimes used for electrical wiring, but, because it corrodes much more easily than copper, much more care has to be taken a) to protect it from the atmosphere and b) to make connections that will be remain reliable over a long period of time. Overall, aluminium wire is not as easy to install so, for general purposes, copper wire is better.
What makes a good electrical conductor?
number of electrons capable of freely moving in the outermost shell of an element. eg. Copper
What are some substances in an electrical circuit?
Mainly copper for the wire, pvc for the insulation.
Are copper wires and not steel wires used in electric circuits although both copper and steel are electrical conductors?
Steel is not used as an electrical conductor because, although it is a conductor, it's not a very good conductor -as is copper and aluminium, for example. A steel-wire core is used, however, to reinforce aluminium conductors on transmission tower lines
Why copper is used more than aluminum in day today life?
Copper is a metal that conducts electricity and is used in a majority of electrical appliances from toasters to mobile phones so in every day life copper is regularly used. Aluminium is only really used in day to day life in aluminium foil as its uses otherwise come from it being a light metal which is why it's used in aeroplanes. When copper was very high in price aluminium was used for electrical cables, but there are two problems - copper is a much better conductor of electricity, and aluminium has an oxide layer on the surface which makes it difficult to get good electrical contact. Copper is also used for water pipes as it is easy to solder and generally has better corrosion resistance.
What metal is good for electrical wiring?
For most applications ... where the wire has no function other than to join the components that accomplish the purpose of the circuit ... the best metal to use for wiring would be the one with the smallest resistivity. That would be silver. A big part of the reason that we usually settle for copper is because it is only second best as a conductor and is a lot less expensive than silver.
What if there were no copper in the world?
Then there would be no copper in the world. Copper is a good electrical conductor (one of the best, in fact), but silver is even better. Aluminium is also acceptable; the wires need to be larger, but aluminium is less dense so on a pound for pound basis that's still okay.
