Electrical conductivity is a physical property of materials.
In general, the term conductivity describes how easily something flows or moves through something else. Electrical conductivity is a physical property of matter describing how easily electric current flows through a given material.
Electrical Conductors
A material is an electrical conductor if electric current flows relatively easily through it in response to an applied voltage. Metals such as copper, aluminum and gold are good electrical conductors.
Electrical Insulators
A material is an electrical insulator if current does not flow through it when a voltage is applied. Wood and rubber are good electrical insulators.
Atomic Structure of Conductors
Good conductors have many free electrons that are not tightly bound to atoms. These electrons will migrate toward a positive electric pole, resulting in an electric current.
Atomic Structure of Insulators
Insulators do not contain many loosely bound electrons. When a voltage is applied across an insulator, few free electrons are available, so no current flows.
Temperature and Conductivity
For most conductors, conductivity is a function of temperature. As the speed of randomly moving electrons increases with temperature, they are more likely to interfere with the directional flow of an electric current.
Conductivity and Cross-Section
Conductors with a large physical cross-section conduct better than those with a smaller cross-section. Large-diameter wires have less resistance to current flow and can conduct more current than small-diameter wires.
Tags: electric current, current flows, Atomic Structure, conductivity physical, conductivity physical property, electric current flows