Why are materials such as glass and and rubber good insulators
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Glass and rubber are good insulators primarily because of their atomic structure and the way they handle electrons. Insulators, unlike conductors (such as metals), do not allow electrical charge to flow freely through them. This is because the electrons in insulating materials are tightly bound to their atoms and cannot move easily.
In glass, the atoms are arranged in a way that creates a strong bond between them, making it difficult for electrons to move from one atom to another. The outer electrons in glass are not free to move around, which means that when an electrical potential is applied, no current is able to flow. This property makes glass an excellent insulator for electrical systems and devices.
Similarly, rubber is an effective insulator due to the way its molecules are structured. Rubber consists of long chains of molecules known as polymers. These polymer chains form a network that does not have free electrons that can move under the influence of an electric field. This lack of free-moving electrons means that electrical current cannot flow through rubber easily. The strength of the bonds between atoms in rubber makes it resistant to electrical flow, contributing to its insulating properties.
Both materials are also resistant to heat. In glass, the atoms are tightly packed, making it difficult for thermal energy to transfer through the material. In rubber, the molecular structure is such that heat does not easily pass through the polymer chains. This resistance to both electrical and thermal conductivity makes these materials ideal for use in a variety of insulating applications, including in electrical cables, heating systems, and electrical devices.
