Question

Classify the following into good conductors, resistors and insulators.
Rubber, Mercury, Nichrome, Polythene, Aluminium, Wood, Manganin, Bakelite, Iron, Paper, Thermocol, Metal coin.

Answer 1

In order to answer this question, we will choose the given substances in all the three given categories, and we will also give the reason for choosing as good conductors, resistors and insulators by defining all three of them. And we will also discuss how resistors and insulators differ from each other.

Complete answer:
From the following given list of the substances:-
$*$ Aluminium, Iron, Manganin, Nichrome, metal coins are good conductors. And, as we know, good conductors are those materials which allow electricity to pass through them easily. Or in simple words, when we compare two types of materials, the first one is said to be a good conductor of electricity because it allows more electricity to flow through it. And the materials we chose can allow the electricity to pass through them efficiently.
$*$ Among the list of the given substances, Mercury is the only substance that comes under the resistors category. The primary function of a resistor is to reduce current flow and lower voltage in a specific area of the circuit. It consists of copper wires that are wrapped around a ceramic rod and have an insulating paint coating on the outside.
$*$ And the rest substances from the given list such as polythene, wood, bakelite, paper, thermocol, rubber, come under the category of insulators. As we know, insulators are materials that prevent electric charges from flowing freely. Conductivity is a quality that defines a conductor's ability to conduct electricity. The effectiveness of insulators is determined by the amount of resistance they provide to the passage of electricity. So, the rest of the substances we chose cannot allow electricity to pass through them.

Note:
Both resistors and insulators work to prevent electricity from flowing through them. Only the degree to which they oppose the flow of electric current distinguishes them. Composite insulator for resistors. According to the materials used, resistors are classified as carbon film resistors, metal film resistors, wire-wound resistors, and so on.