Conductors and insulators · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Conductors and insulators

Science · Energy · ages 8-9
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. What do we call a material that blocks electricity from flowing?

    • A conductor
    • An insulator
    • A battery

  2. Which material lets electricity flow through it?

    • Rubber
    • Copper wire
    • Plastic

  3. Metals are generally good conductors of electricity.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Why is a wire made of metal on the inside but covered in plastic on the outside?

    • The metal conducts electricity and the plastic insulates it for safety
    • The plastic conducts electricity and the metal is just for looks
    • Both metal and plastic conduct electricity equally

  5. Nia tests six new materials in her circuit: a steel nail, a rubber eraser, a metal key, a plastic cup, a fork, and a wooden spoon. Which group are the conductors?

    Conductors3Insulators3
    • The steel nail, the metal key, and the fork
    • The rubber eraser, the plastic cup, and the wooden spoon
    • All six materials

  6. Which pair of materials are both insulators?

    • Rubber and plastic
    • Copper and iron
    • Aluminum and silver

  7. Zara tests six materials: two metal spoons, one metal fork, one rubber eraser, one plastic ruler, and one wooden block. How many of the six materials are conductors?

    Answer: ______________

  8. Priya tests a plastic spoon in her circuit and the bulb doesn't light. She says, 'The battery must be dead.' Is her reasoning correct?

    • Yes, plastic always breaks circuits permanently
    • Yes, the battery is dead
    • No, the plastic spoon is an insulator, so the bulb won't light with it in the circuit
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Conductors and insulators W1-mt_d-EKO-pKkP-s1

  1. An insulator · An insulator blocks electricity. Rubber and plastic are common insulators.
  2. Copper wire · Copper is a metal, and metals are good conductors. Electricity flows through them easily.
  3. True · Most metals, like copper and iron, let electricity flow through them easily.
  4. The metal conducts electricity and the plastic insulates it for safety · The metal core carries the electric current, while the plastic coating stops it from reaching your hand.
  5. The steel nail, the metal key, and the fork · The nail, key, and fork are metal, and metals conduct electricity. The eraser, cup, and wooden spoon are insulators.
  6. Rubber and plastic · Rubber and plastic block electricity. The other pairs are metals, which conduct electricity.
  7. 3 · The two spoons and the fork are metal, so they conduct electricity. That's 3 conductors out of 6 materials.
  8. No, the plastic spoon is an insulator, so the bulb won't light with it in the circuit · Plastic is an insulator, so it blocks electricity. That's expected, not a sign that the battery is broken.
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