how do insulators work?
340719
In either case they work by being resistant to the transfer of energy.\n\nDifferent kinds of energy are resisted in different ways.\n\nElectrical insulators are made of materials that have their electrons bound more tightly.\n\nHeat insulators are made of materials that don't conduct heat very well.  Often, they contain lots of air-pockets which is itself a good insulator of conductive heat.
369932
It is called grounding.  Since electricity takes the path of least resistance, a ground wire is attached to electrical equipement to divert this charge, from a short circuit as an example, directly to the ground where it will not cause damage.
35680
They work by circulating hot air inside the oven to make cooking more uniform and faster... \n\nCheck out the sources for alink to a website that goes into more detail...
650119
Less dense materials are better insulators. The denser the material, the closer its atoms are together. That means the transfer of energy of one atom to the next is more effective. Thus, gases insulate better than liquids, which in turn insulate better than solids.\n\nAn interesting fact is that poor conductors of electricity are also poor heat conductors. Wood is a much better insulator than copper. The reason is that metals that conduct electricity allow free electrons to roam through the material. This enhances the transfer of energy from one area to another in the metal. Without this ability, the material--like wood..AND IN YOUR CASE RUBBER--does not conduct heat well.
1076485
i dont know much about physics but i did a search and this is what i got hope it has what you're looking for:\n\nhttp://science.electronicsinfoline.com/Physics/Electricity_and_Magnetism/
112334
Air is a good insulator as far as it doesn't circulate. It has low conductivity (about 1,4 Btu/ft h ºF), but if you let the air circulate there can be a very good heat transmission due to convection.\nThat's why insulators try to trap small amounts of air inside, so the air stays immobile.\nVaccumm would be a much better insulator.
737517
Their behaviour when you heat them:\nThermoplastics soften, and re-set on cooling.\nThermosetting plastics don't soften at all, and merely catch fire if you overdo the heating!
1146414
http://science.howstuffworks.com/electricity.htm
893177
Its all about mobility.  \n\nHow does the energy (in the form of heat) get transported over the structure?  Lattice vibrations, right?\n\nThe bonds have to deform in order to vibrate, and the higher electronegativity, associated with a higher bond strength, is more resistant to the imposed deformations, and therefore to transporting the heat.\n\nExcept for radiant transport (and thats a factor of T^4) the best conductive insulator or convective insulator is... a vacuum.  No mass means no bucket in which to ship the energy.
607179
a belt is driven across a surface rubbing the two together to make 'static', which is basically just free electrons. they collect in the big metallic ball, and when the potential is high enough between the ball and another conductor (or a conductor is brough close enough), the electrons 'jump the gap' to get to ground, and you see the big spark!\n\nWant to build one? Here's how:
893341
well if i am not wrong.. they work on the principle of thermionic emission... \n\nnow wat happens is ... at the cathode end ( negatively charged) there is a metal bit.. called emitter  and at the anode end( positive terminal) another metal called the receiver. the tube is vacuated and filled with gas, in this case a halogen vapour. \n\nwat happens is when a potential is applied, when we switch it on, the cathode emits electrons.\nthese electrons pass thru the vapours and ionise them. when ionised these gases emit energy in the form of light..\n\nthis is the explanation in the most condensed form... equations make it complicated for understanding... \n\nhope i did justice to ur query
165187
Glass, teflon, bakelite and ceramics are among the best insulators.\n\nSilver is the best conductor of electricity, followed by copper.  Note that gold is often used for electrical contacts  NOT because it is the best electrical conductor, but because it is perhaps the least chemically reactive of metals.\n\nSeveral corrections to an answer below:\n\n1. Gold is a better conductor than aluminum. \n2. Air and vacuum are relatively poor electrical insulators, not even close to being the best. \n3. A glass insulator is 100 times better than either air or vacuum, and 1.3 to 2 times better than teflon. \n4. Mica is an even better insulator: 250 times better than air, and 2.6 times better than teflon.
948861
Ok, i am an electronics teacher, but it will be very lengthy and cumbersome to explain, because you have to go as deep as electrons and positive and negative charges, so i can advise you to go to www.wikipedia.com and you will find a satisfactory answer.
493900
An "Insulator" is something made out of a material which has insulating properties. One may have a need to insulate against the cold, heat, or electrical current.\n\nAn insulating blanket wrapped around the water heater will increase the energy efficiency of the unit and use less fuel to keep the water hot.\n\nThe high voltage wires hang from an ceramic insulator on the telephone pole keeping the current isolated until it reaches the outlets in our home.\n\nA pot holder insulates your hands from the heat of the pot handles.\n\nStyrofoam cups insulate hot or cold by blocking the passage of heat.\n\nMaterials which have insulating properties will not conduct heat, or electricity. The heat will not travel through the material. \n\nThe opposite of an insulator is a conductor. Metal is a good conductor of both heat and electricity.\n\nInsulate is also a verb. I try to insulate myself from the critics by using the spell checker. :>)
638239
A conductor will allow electricity to pass through it, an insulator will not
82937
The electric company generates (makes) electricty, which they send through wires. These wires go to every house. In some places, you can seem them on the street, but in most places they are underground.\n\nWhen you flip a switch, your are connecting the lightbulb to one of these wires. So electricity flows from the wire to the lightbulb. When you close the switch, you disconnect the 2 wires.\n\nThat is what happens. How electricty is made, and how lightbulbs and switches works is a bit more complicated, but for that I suggest Wikipedia:\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity\n\nThe basic idea behind generating electricity though, is that you are freeing electrons from atoms, which then go to other atom/s that absorb them.
808587
so that it gets ionised during electrolysis and the ions help in the conduction of electricity....