1. What is a conductor, a Semiconductor, and a non-conductor substance?
Conductor
A material that allows electric current (flow of electrons) to pass through it easily. It
has many free electrons. Example: Copper (Cu), Silver (Ag), Aluminum (Al), Iron
(Fe). Used in wires and electrical circuits.
Semiconductor
A material that conducts electricity partially — its conductivity lies between a
conductor and an insulator. It has a limited number of free electrons, and its
conductivity increases with temperature or impurity doping. Example: Silicon
(Si), Germanium (Ge). Used in electronic devices like diodes, transistors, and
integrated circuits.
Non-conductor (Insulator)
A material that does not allow electric current to flow through it easily. It has very
few or no free electrons. Example: Rubber, Plastic, Glass, Wood. Used to cover
wires and prevent electric shocks.
2. What are the differences between a conductor and a non-conductor
substance?
Here are the main differences between a conductor and a non-conductor
(insulator):
Conductor Non-conductor
Materials that allow electric current to pass Materials that do not allow electric
through easily. current to pass through easily.
Conductors have many free electrons. Non-conductors have very few or no free
electrons.
It has very High conductivity. It has very low conductivity.
Its Conductivity decreases when the Its Conductivity increases slightly with
temperature increases. temperature but remains very low.
Used for making wires and circuits. Used for covering wires and preventing
electric shocks.
3. How does current electricity produce from static electricity?
When two objects are rubbed together, some electric charges are produced on their
surfaces. This is called static electricity. For example, when a plastic comb is rubbed
with a woolen cloth, it gets charged and can attract small pieces of paper. But when
the charged comb is touched by hand, it no longer attracts the paper. This happens
because the static electricity in the comb flows through the hand to the ground. The
charges start to move from one place to another, and this movement of charges is
called current electricity. In static electricity, the charges stay at one place, but in
current electricity, they move through a conductor like a wire. The electricity
produced by rubbing lasts for a short time only because the amount of charge is
small. Once all the charges flow away, the current stops. To keep the flow of current
continuous, there must be a steady source of electricity, such as a cell, battery, or
generator. These sources supply charges continuously and help to maintain current
electricity.
4. What is Magnet?
A magnet is a substance that can attract materials like iron, steel, nickel, and cobalt.
It has two ends called poles — the north pole and the south pole. The magnetic
force is strongest at these poles. Magnets can be natural or artificial. Natural
magnets are found in nature, like lodestone, while artificial magnets are made by
humans from materials like iron or steel. A magnet can attract objects made of
magnetic materials and can also repel or attract other magnets. The area around a
magnet where its force can be felt is called the magnetic field.
5. What are the properties of a magnet?
a) A magnet attracts materials like iron, steel, nickel, and cobalt. Other materials
such as wood, plastic, or glass, are not attracted by a magnet.
b) When a magnet is freely suspended, it always rests in the north–south
direction. This property is used in making compasses.
c) Every magnet has two poles — a north pole and a south pole. The magnetic
force is strongest at these poles.
d) A magnet can make another magnetic material (like an iron nail) behave like
a magnet for a short time.
e) The space around a magnet where its force can be felt is called the magnetic
field .
6. What are the differences between magnetic and non-magnetic substance?
Magnetic Non-magnetic
Materials that are attracted by a magnet are Materials that are not attracted by a magnet are
called magnetic substance. called non-magnetic substances.
Magnetic substances can be magnetized and Non-magnetic substances cannot be magnetized
retain magnetism. or retain magnetism.
It is used to make magnets, electromagnets, and It is used for Insulation, construction, utensils,
electric motors . and non-magnetic tools.
These substances have unpaired electrons that These substances have paired electrons, so no
allow alignment of magnetic domains. net magnetic effect occurs.
7. What is the Terrestrial Magnetic Field?
Ans: The terrestrial magnetic field is the magnetic field that surrounds the Earth.
It behaves like a huge bar magnet placed at the center of the Earth, with magnetic
poles near the geographic poles.