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Is the looseness of outer electrons in metal atoms the reason metal is both good heat conductors and electrical conductors?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
They carry energy from one part of the conductor to another.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoYes, because electrons are able to move more freely with that looseness, and that promotes electricity and heat.
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What do all metals contain which makes them good conductors?
The reason metals are good conductors is because they have a less electron affinity, or they just don't have a lot of them. The valance electrons they have are held loosely so it is easier for new electrons to push through, creating electricity.
What are things that electricity move through easily?
Things that electricity move through easily are called conductors. The reason electricity moves through these materials more easily than others is that the electrons in these materials are not tightly bound or even associated with any particular atom. Physicist like to think of the the electrons in conductors as forming some kind of charged gas or liquid. They call it a sea of electrons. Please take note that I do not mean to send the impression that electrons in a conductor LITERALLY form a liquid or gas, but their movements are such to lend themselves to that analogy. We think of a wire kind of as a water pipe. One droplet of water entering the pipe on one side sends precisely one drop of water out of the other side. Really electricity is motion, the motion of charge carrier (electrons in metals). Their movement is a response to the electric field, which is a consequence (in a circuit) of a non-uniform distribution of charges.
How would you summarize what sort of materials are insulators and which are conductors?
Conductors are usually made of metals. The reason why the handle of a metal spoon gets hot in a hot bowl of soup is because metal is a conductor of heat. Insulators are usually made of materials such as styrofoam, plastic, and paper. That is why when you buy a cup of coffee at a cafe it is given to you in a paper cup.
How many valence electrons do stable atoms have?
A stable atom has 8 electrons in its outer most valence shell. A simple way to remember this is that all atoms want to be like the noble gases which all have 8 electrons (except helium but the reason is complicated and not necessary here)
Does resistance make voltage or current higher in an electrical circuit?
ohm's law ..... E = I x R but the facts are that most of the time the voltage (E) is fixed so I = E / R so the higher the resistance, the lower the current. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_resistance A resistance resist the current to flow and makes the current lower in an electrical circuit. The voltage in an electrical circuit is given from the source (battery etc) and will not be higer by adding a resistance, but in the part of the electrical circuit where you put the resistance the voltage could be higer (and it would then be lower other parts)
Is sodium a conductor of electricity?
The same reason that all conductors are conductors: it has a lot of free electrons.
Why are electrical and electronic appliances made of both conductors and non-conductors?
It obviously uses conductors to carry electricity through the system however non-conductive material is used for the reason of safety, organization of electrical components, and mechanical work.
Why are metals good conductors of electrcity while rubber and plastic are insulators?
the reason metals are good conductors is because in their subatomic structure electrons float as if in a sea, also called a sea of electrons that is why you can magnetize most metals and they conduct electricity.
What do all metals contain which makes them good conductors?
The reason metals are good conductors is because they have a less electron affinity, or they just don't have a lot of them. The valance electrons they have are held loosely so it is easier for new electrons to push through, creating electricity.
What is the difference between thermal conductors and thermal insulators?
Conductors carry thermal energy through, but insulators prevent the movement of heat energy. The usual reason is the way the electrons in these elements and compounds are organized, because electrons are the energy carrier, either for heat or electricity.
Does plastic transfer heat easily?
Basic Answer:Electrical insulators do not conduct electricity and are are typically among the poorer heat conductors.Good electrical conductors are metals and metals are typically very good heat conductors.Complicated Answer:The term "insulator" is hardly appropriate in reference to thermal conductivity if one means to say that the material has low thermal conductivity. The difference between good thermal conductor and poor thermal conductors is a factor of perhaps a hundred or for extremely different materials such as air (very poor) and diamond (excellent) is a factor of 100,000. That is modest compared to the difference between poor conductors (rubber) and excellent (copper) which is a factor of a billion billion billion.The connection between good heat conductors and good electrical conductors is a reliable but not a law of nature. Good electrical conductors are good thermal conductors due to the fact that electrons participate in both processes. Nearly free electrons are the reason metals are electrical conductors and contribute a large part of the thermal conductivity. (Diamonds are a peculiar exception.)The connection between poor electrical conductors and poor thermal conductivity is less good and really only a consequence that the electrons are not there to help out.
What is purpose of using bundle conductors in ehv transmission lines?
One reason is that since the electrons travel on the surface of the transmission lines there is more surface area when conductors are bundled thereby reducing resistance to current flow thereby reducing the voltage drop across the transmission path. In extra high voltage line an electrical discharge formed by ionization of fluids surrounded by the conductor which is highly energized , so energized that it creates electrical conduction but not high enough to electrical breaking or arcing surrounding objects. this phenomenon is called corona losses.to prevent this corona loss bundle conductor is used.
Why metals are good conductors?
Metals are good conductors of both electric charges and heat because their electrons are "loose." (info from physics book)
What type of bond occurs when electrons float free between all the atoms in the bond?
You may mean metallic bonding. Metal atoms are bonded by a "sea" of de-localised electrons. This sea of electrons is also the reason behind why metals are such good electrical conductors.
Why is it a good conductor of electricity a good conductor of heat?
Not all are. The general rule among metals is that the better it is for conducting heat, the better it is at conducting electricity. But for things that are not metals, this is not the rule. Diamonds are astonishingly good at conducting heat, much better than copper, but they are terrible at conducting electricity and are considered to be insulators.
Is it true that nonmetals are good conductors of heat and electricity?
Some nonmetallic materials are good conductors, graphite being an example. In this form, it is considered a semi-metal for that reason. Normally, however, nonmetals are not good electrical conductors.
Why is lead a poor conductor of electricity but a good conductor of heat?
The reason for this is that lead readily reacts with the atmospheric oxygen to forms lead oxide. Lead oxide that has been formed does not have any free electrons. Therefore, it is not able to pass electricity. As, lead exists in the form of lead oxide in which, free electrons are not available.
