Conductors allow electricity to flow easily because they have:
a) Many positively charged particles
b) Many negatively charged particles (free electrons)
c) Few charged particles
d) No charged particles
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is b) Many negatively charged particles (free electrons).
Conductors allow electricity to flow easily due to the presence of free electrons, which are negatively charged particles that can move freely within the material. This characteristic is typical of metals such as copper, aluminum, and silver, which are commonly used in electrical wiring and other applications.
In a conductor, atoms are arranged in a regular pattern, and the outer electrons of the atoms are not tightly bound to their respective atoms. Instead, these free electrons are able to move around within the material when an electric field is applied. This movement of electrons constitutes an electric current.
When a voltage is applied across a conductor, the free electrons in the conductor begin to drift in the direction opposite to the electric field (since electrons are negatively charged). This drift creates an electric current. The more free electrons a material has, the better it is at conducting electricity, which is why metals, which have a high density of free electrons, are excellent conductors.
In contrast, insulators, such as rubber or glass, do not have free electrons. In these materials, electrons are tightly bound to their atoms, preventing them from moving freely and thereby stopping the flow of electricity. Semiconductors, like silicon, have a smaller number of free electrons compared to metals, and their ability to conduct electricity can be modified through doping, making them useful in electronic devices.
Thus, the presence of many free electrons is the key factor that makes a material a good conductor of electricity.