Working of Insulators
We observe the energy band diagram of an insulator to understand its working:
Valence Band: This is the outermost band and electrons present in this band are valence electrons.
Conduction Band: When free electrons escape from their valence band they get freed from the atom and enter the conduction band.
As seen in the diagram , we have a valence band which consist of the valence electrons and we have a conduction band responsible for conduction. The forbidden energy gap is minimum energy gap which is required to be crossed in order for electrons to transfer from valence band to conduction band.
In order for current to flow, the electrons need to gain sufficient energy to cross the energy gap and enter conduction band after crossing the valence band. Inside an insulator like wood , the energy gap is quite big and therefore it becomes almost impossible to cross this energy barrier. The depletion width is very large and electrons can’t cross this width thereby there is no flow of current.
Unlike insulators, this gap is very low in conductors and electrons can easily cross the barrier causing good electron flow for current generation. Hence, insulators resist the flow of current.
What is Insulator ?
The term insulator refers to a device whose prime function is to ‘insulate’. An insulator is an electrical device that opposes the flow of current in a circuit. This quality of insulators to resist the motion of electrons is of great electrical advantage. They are often used as a protection device in certain circuits with high currents.
In this article, We will discuss what an is Insulator? with its types which are Pin Insulator, Suspension Insulator, Strain Insulator, hackle Insulator, Post Insulator, Stay Insulator, and Disc Insulator. We also discuss their characteristics, applications in real life and what are some of their advantages and disadvantages. Some examples have been added for a better understanding of the concept.
Table of Content
- Insulator
- Types
- Working
- Properties And Characteristics
- Solved Examples
- Advantages and Disadvantages
- Applications