Activity: Conductivity
Theme: Electricity
Ideal Group Size
Grade Level
Set Up/Clean Up Time
Activity Time
Any
All
1 min / 2 min
10-15 minutes
Math/science questions addressed: What materials conduct electricity?
Overview: Participants use an energy stick to determine if objects are conductors or insulators.
Materials: 1 energy stick, assortment of materials from the kit (see list at bottom of page)*
To do:
1. Have participants stand in a circle and hold hands. Have two participants drop hands (break the
circle in one spot) and have them each hold one end of the energy stick instead, to create a
closed circuit. The energy stick should turn on.
2. Have two other participants drop hands. Have them each hold opposite ends of either a
conductor or an insulator from the kit. Make sure these two participants aren’t touching each
other at all – they should be connected only by the material they are holding.
Ask: What happened? Do you think this object will be a conductor or an insulator?
Explain: Conductors are materials that will let electricity travel through them. Insulators are materials
that will not let electricity travel through them. If the object is a conductor, the energy stick will work.
This material is good at passing its electrons, so the circuit stays closed. If the object is an insulator,
the energy stick should turn off. This material is not good at passing its electrons, so the circuit breaks
open.
To do: Repeat the experiment trying each of the different objects provided.
Ask: What happens with each object? Which objects are conductors and which are insulators? Can you
add more than one conductor at a time and keep the light stick on? When might you have seen these
materials being used with electricity before?
Background: Electricity is the flow of electrons. Everything is made of atoms, which contain electrons.
Most metals are conductors, which means that electrons move freely from one atom to the next when
connected to a circuit, which allows electricity to pass through. Most non-metals are insulators,
because the electrons will not move freely. Because conductors let electricity pass through, you should
be able to put multiple conductors in your circuit and still have the energy stick turn on. Common
conducting materials are copper wires and switches.
*List of conductive/insulating materials from the kit:
Some conductive items from the kit: nail, paperclip, pin, penny, metal fork. Some insulating items
from the kit: wooden dowel, soap dish, ping pong ball, plastic spoon, and nickel.
These 2014 Summer Learning science activities were developed by Pacific Science Center