Tag: introduction to electrostatics

Most solid materials are classified as insulators because they offer large resistance to the flow of electric current. because they do not have free electrons.

Insulators are the materials that do not allow free flow of electrons from atom to atom and molecule to molecule. Subsequently charge is seldom distributed evenly across the surface of an insulator while, insulators are not used for transferring a charge, they do serve a critical role in electrostatic experiments and demonstrations.

Lightening gets to the ground if the charges flow from lightening to the ground. It happens when these charges follow a path of least impedance. 

During discharging of a charged glass rod via earthing the connecting material should be such that it allows charge to flow through them easily. Such a material is a conductor. So, the connecting material can be a conducting wire. 

A charged glass rod can be discharged by connecting it to the ground (i.e, earthing it) via a conducting wire. In this way, charge from glass rod will flow to the ground via the conducting wire. 

At room temperature, conductivity is less because of obstruction from other ions.
At low pressure, this disturbance is reduced and hence gases become good conductors.