The online electrical conductivity simulations on this page will help you understand how conductivity acts at the atomic level and why some materials are conductive and others are not. We will discover conductive, insulating, and semiconducting materials.
What is electrical conductivity
Electrical conductivity is the ability of a material to allow the passage of electric current. This occurs thanks to the presence of charged particles, such as electrons or ions, which can move freely through the material. Materials that facilitate this movement are called conductors, while those that hinder the flow of charge are known as insulators. Electrical conductivity is measured in siemens per meter (S/m) and varies depending on the type of material and its conditions.
Electrical conductivity at the atomic level
Electrical conductivity depends on the ability of atoms in a material to transfer electrical charges. This property is determined by the atomic structure and, in particular, by the ease with which its electrons can move. Based on this ability, materials are classified as conductors, insulators, or semiconductors, reflecting their ability to allow or impede the flow of electrical charge.
Conductive materials. Metals
Metals are good conductors because of their atomic structure. Metal atoms have free electrons in their outer shell that can easily move between atoms. When an electric field is applied, these free electrons move in the direction of the electric field and carry electric charge. Therefore, metals are good conductors of electricity.
Non-conductive materials. Insulators
Insulators, on the other hand, have a different atomic structure. The atoms in insulators do not have free electrons in their outer shell. Instead, the outer shell electrons are tightly bound to the atoms, making it difficult for them to move. Therefore, insulators cannot carry electric charges and are poor conductors.
Semiconductors
Semiconductors have an atomic structure intermediate between conductors and insulators. They have some free electrons in their outer shell, but not as many as metals. In addition, electrons can easily jump into the conduction band and become free electrons under certain conditions, such as the application of an electric field or energy absorption. Therefore, semiconductors have an intermediate electrical conductivity.
Electrical conductivity simulations
Conductivity
Experiment with conductivity in metals, plastics and photoconductors. See why metals conduct and plastics do not, and why some materials conduct only when a flashlight shines on them.
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Energy band of metals
Metals become electrically conductive because electrons can move freely through them across energy bands. The electrons of many nonmetals are difficult to move because the electrons fill the energy band.
Semiconductors
This simulation allows you to explore how semiconductors behave under different electrical conditions. You can observe how current is generated and modulated in semiconductor materials, how it varies with temperature and the addition of dopants, and how these properties influence electrical conductivity. Thanks to this tool, you can visually understand the fundamental principles that make semiconductors the foundation of many modern electronic devices.
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“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants”
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