1. Explain how you know the friction rod is an insulator and not a conductor I u

Question

1. Explain how you know the friction rod is an insulator and not a conductor

I understand that conductors are usually metals that allow electrons to flow freely, while insulators are usually non-metals which disrupt the free flow of electrons. But if you could break it down for me it would be very much appreciated. I am having a bit of trouble with the concept

2. Comment on how friction and humidity could be a factor in the null result/

Would humiditty just leach the electrons into the enviornemt? If so, why

Explanation / Answer

friction rod is generally made up of glass

Materials made of atoms that hold on to their electrons very tightly are called insulators. Materials made of atoms that have a weak attraction to their electrons are called conductors. If you take a segment of electric wire, you will have both types of materials in it. The silicon that wraps around the metal is an insulator, and the metal inside is a conductor. Electrons inside conductors are free to move as influenced by various forces. They either move inside the conductor itself or can migrate to another conductor. Electrons inside insulators can only move within atoms themselves and cannot move along the insulator. They may stretch the atoms or rotate them but never leave the atoms under normal circumstances. Nevertheless, every insulator has a maximum electric field strength that it can withstand without a breakdown. At the breakdown, the electric field frees bound electrons, thus turning the insulator into a conductor. The breakdown point depends on different factors, which include humidity, temperature, thickness of the insulator, as well as the strength of the electric field.

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