What is a conductor?

A conductor, in the realm of electrical engineering and physics, is a material that allows electric current to flow easily through it. This property is due to the availability of free electrons within the material's atomic structure.

Key aspects of conductors include:

• High Electrical Conductivity: This is the defining characteristic. Conductors offer very little resistance to the flow of <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/electric%20current">electric current</a>.

• Free Electrons: Conductors possess a large number of electrons that are not tightly bound to the atoms, allowing them to move freely under the influence of an electric field.

• Common Materials: Metals like <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/copper">copper</a>, <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/aluminum">aluminum</a>, <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/silver">silver</a>, and gold are excellent conductors. Other materials like seawater (due to the presence of ions) and graphite (a form of carbon) can also conduct electricity.

• Applications: Conductors are used extensively in electrical wiring, power transmission lines, electronics, and various electrical components. Their low resistance minimizes energy loss during electrical transmission.

• Ohm's Law: Conductors generally obey <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/ohm's%20law">Ohm's Law</a>, which states that the voltage across a conductor is directly proportional to the current flowing through it, provided the temperature remains constant. (V = IR, where V is voltage, I is current, and R is resistance).

• Temperature Dependence: The conductivity of a conductor generally decreases as its temperature increases. This is because higher temperatures cause more atomic vibrations, hindering the free flow of electrons. The <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/resistivity">resistivity</a> rises with temperature.