Insulation & Earthing

Question 1

What is Insulation in Electrostatics?

Answer 1

Is the act of separating two conducting substances by using a non-conducting substance to stop the flow of heat and/or electricity.

Question 2

What are some examples of insulators?

Answer 2

• Rubber
• Plastic
• Glass
• Other substances that hold on to their electrons tightly.

Question 3

What is an example of a conductor?

Answer 3

• Metals (as they contain free moving electrons)

Question 4

What is Earthing in Electrostatics?

Answer 4

Is a safety mechanism in circuits that allows charge to be directed and dissipated into the ground, where it is harmless.

Question 5

What are the three wires of a plug?

Answer 5

• Brown live wire
• Blue neutral wire
• Green + yellow earth wire

Question 6

What does the Brown Live Wire in a plug do?

Answer 6

Is the route for the electric current into the appliance.

Question 7

What does the Blue Neutral Wire in a plug do?

Answer 7

Completes the circuit; exit for the current.

> has a voltage near 0.

Question 8

What does the Green and Yellow Earth Wire do in a plug?

Answer 8

Is a safety wire that is attached to Earthing system to neutralize charge in appliances.

Question 9

What are the three main safety mechanisms in a plug?

Answer 9

• The green and yellow earth wire
• Fuse
• Insulation

Question 10

What is the fuse in a circuit?

Answer 10

Is a very thin wire that melts in a current overload, breaking the circuit.

Question 11

What is the insulation in a plug?

Answer 11

Plastic insulation surrounds metal bits in plug.