Electricity is all around us, flowing through some materials while avoiding others. But did you know that liquid metals can conduct electricity, or that glass can become a conductor at high temperatures? In this article,we’ll explore some of the most surprising and fun facts about conductors (which let electricity flow) and insulators (which block it).
Also Check – The Science Behind Conductors and Insulators – A Step-by-Step Explanation
Conductors – Weird & Fascinating Facts:
- Human Bodies Can Act as Conductors, but Not Always Efficiently
- Your body is not a great conductor like metals, but it can still pass electricity because it’s made of water and electrolytes. In fact, your nerve impulses are tiny electrical signals!
- Diamond Is a Terrible Electrical Conductor but an Excellent Thermal One
- Diamond is one of the best thermal conductors in the world (heat flows through it super fast), but it’s a terrible electrical conductor because it has a strong covalent bond with no free electrons.
- Some Liquids Are Conductors Too!
- Pure water is actually an insulator, not a conductor. However, when minerals (like salt) are dissolved in it, they create ions that carry electric charge, making it a conductor.
- Lightning Strikes Hotter Than the Sun!
- The plasma channel in a lightning strike reaches around 30,000 Kelvin (53,540°F), which is 5 times hotter than the surface of the Sun. Air acts as an insulator until the voltage gets high enough to break through!
- Some Living Things Use Conductors to Hunt or Defend Themselves
- The electric eel can generate up to 600 volts using specialized cells called electrocytes, which are stacked like batteries. They use this electrical discharge to stun prey!
- Gold Is a Worse Conductor Than Copper!
- People assume gold is the best conductor, but actually, copper and silver conduct electricity better! Gold is used in electronics mainly because it doesn’t corrode like silver or copper.
- Liquid Metal Can Conduct Electricity & Move Like Sci-Fi T-1000 Robots
- Gallium and mercury are liquid metals at room temperature and they can conduct electricity. Scientists are even working on liquid metal electronics that could shape-shift like in “Terminator 2“!
Insulators – Strange & Cool Facts:
- Aerogel Is One of the Best Insulators on Earth
- Aerogel, also called “frozen smoke,” is 99.8% air and can withstand extreme heat, protecting objects from direct flames. NASA uses it for space missions!
- Glass Can Conduct Electricity at Very High Temperatures!
- Normally, glass is an excellent insulator, but when heated to about 1,000°C (1,832°F), it becomes a conductor!
- Rubber Tires Won’t Save You From Lightning
- People think car tires protect you from lightning, but it’s actually the metal body of the car that redirects electricity, not the rubber.
- Paper Can Be an Insulator or a Conductor
- Plastic Can Hold Static Electricity for Years
- Ever noticed how plastic objects can keep attracting dust for a long time? That’s because insulators can hold on to static charge for years if not discharged.
- Feathers Are Excellent Insulators
- Birds stay warm in winter because their feathers trap air, making them one of nature’s best insulators—better than wool!
- Some Insulators Can Withstand Thousands of Volts!
- Special insulators like mica, porcelain and ceramic are used in power lines because they can handle hundreds of thousands of volts without breaking down.
- Wood is an Insulator—But Only When It’s Dry!
- Dry wood is a great insulator, but when it’s wet, it becomes a decent conductor since water allows electricity to flow through it.
