Physics › Section M · Electric charge and field › Topic M.2
Conductors, insulators, and fields in conductors
Some materials let charge flow through them and others hold it in place. That one difference explains how objects are charged without being touched, why neutral paper leaps to a charged comb, and why a metal car is a safe place in a thunderstorm.
In this topic
- Two kinds of material
- Conductors
- Insulators and grounding
- Charging by contact
- Charging by induction
- Worked example: reading an electroscope
- Polarisation: why neutral objects are attracted
- Conductors in electrostatic equilibrium
- Worked example: charge inside a metal can
- Sharp points and shielding
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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