Insulators and Conductors

Insulators and Conductors

Skills

decision making

communicating

learning how to learn

observing

comparing

organizing

relating

Materials

D-cell battery

strip of aluminum foil; about 1/2 inch wide by 6 inches long

flashlight bulb (about a 3-volt rating)

clothespin

masking tape about 6 inches long

objects to test (paper clip, penny, marble, etc.)

Doing the Activity
Making a Insulator/Conductor Tester

Fold a 6-inch strip of aluminum foil lengthwise until it is no more than a 1/2 inch wide.

Wrap one end of the foil strip around the base of the bulb.

Clip a wooden clothespin around the foil and bulb to hold them together tightly.

Use some tape to fasten the other end of the battery.

If your bulb does not light, try to make changes so that it will.

Insulator/Conductor Tests

Your leader will give you a bag of objects (penny, sponge, paper clip, bottle cap) to test whether they conduct electricity or act as an insulator. Remember that a conductor allows electricity to pass through easily, an insulator does not.

Before you use your tester, remove the objects from the bag and spread them out on your table.

Predict (guess) which ones will be conductors and which ones will be insulators. Separate the items according to your predictions. Record your predictions on the chart below.

Test each of the items using the tester you made. Compare your results with your predictions, and star the ones you predicted correctly.

Talking it over

What are some characteristics the conductors have in common?

What are similarities of insulators?

Why does electrical wire have a plastic coating?

What's Happening

If an object allows electricity to pass through it easily, we call this a conductor. An insulator is an object that does not allow electricity to flow through it very well.

More Challenges

Test some other materials you have around you to see if they are Insulator or Conductor.

Activity Source

"Funtivities: Hands-on Science and Math." Iowa State University Program for Women in Science and Engineering. Extension Distribution Center
(515) 294-5247, order # 4H-952 for grades 4-5, #4H-952LDR for grades 4-5 leader's guide, #4H-953 for grades 6-8, #4H-953LDR for grades 6-8 leader's guide.

Insulators

Conductors

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
University Extension

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	Insulators and Conductors
	Skills decision making communicating learning how to learn observing comparing organizing relating
	Materials D-cell battery strip of aluminum foil; about 1/2 inch wide by 6 inches long flashlight bulb (about a 3-volt rating) clothespin masking tape about 6 inches long objects to test (paper clip, penny, marble, etc.)
	Doing the Activity Making a Insulator/Conductor Tester Fold a 6-inch strip of aluminum foil lengthwise until it is no more than a 1/2 inch wide. Wrap one end of the foil strip around the base of the bulb. Clip a wooden clothespin around the foil and bulb to hold them together tightly. Use some tape to fasten the other end of the battery. If your bulb does not light, try to make changes so that it will.
	Insulator/Conductor Tests Your leader will give you a bag of objects (penny, sponge, paper clip, bottle cap) to test whether they conduct electricity or act as an insulator. Remember that a conductor allows electricity to pass through easily, an insulator does not. Before you use your tester, remove the objects from the bag and spread them out on your table. Predict (guess) which ones will be conductors and which ones will be insulators. Separate the items according to your predictions. Record your predictions on the chart below. Test each of the items using the tester you made. Compare your results with your predictions, and star the ones you predicted correctly.
	Talking it over What are some characteristics the conductors have in common? What are similarities of insulators? Why does electrical wire have a plastic coating?
	What's Happening If an object allows electricity to pass through it easily, we call this a conductor. An insulator is an object that does not allow electricity to flow through it very well.
	More Challenges Test some other materials you have around you to see if they are Insulator or Conductor.
	Activity Source "Funtivities: Hands-on Science and Math." Iowa State University Program for Women in Science and Engineering. Extension Distribution Center (515) 294-5247, order # 4H-952 for grades 4-5, #4H-952LDR for grades 4-5 leader's guide, #4H-953 for grades 6-8, #4H-953LDR for grades 6-8 leader's guide.