SCIENCE PROJECT

Roman Padierne
th
4 Grade - Mrs. Noy

Topic: What conducts

electricity?
Problem Statement

Does electricity flows best

through water, metal or fabric?
Applications

The people who uses this are mechanics and

electricians.

This benefits them by identifying materials

for an electrical circuit.
Background Information

Electricity was discovered by the

Greeks.

There are three types of

materials:
- conductors
- insulators
- semiconductors
Background Information

A metal is a conductor. When a circuit has a

light bulb, and you add a metal, the bulb
lights up.

Silicon is a semiconductor because when it is

cold the light bulb is off and when it is hot
the light bulb turns on.

Glass is an insulator because in this circuit,

the light is always off
Background Information

Each material has a different atomic structure

(bands)
Background Information

Semiconductors are
used in computers,
cell phones, i-pads,
etc.

Computer use
electrical fields to
allow electrons to
move through
semiconductors
Hypothesis

If water, metal and fabric are tested to

see which one conducts electricity the
best, then metal will be the best
conductor of electricity.
Variables

Controlled: The amount of electricity used

Manipulated: Different materials

Responding: Amount of electricity

generated
Materials

1. Materials
- Metals:
Aluminum
Copper
- Fabric
- Carton
- Styrofoam
- Plastic
- Water

2. Multimeter
3. 2 AA batteries
4. 1 cup with water
(50mL)
5. Electricity board
6. Cables
Procedures

1. Measure if batteries are full of electricity.

2. Make a circuit, and measure how much
electricity the multimeter measures when
both cables are connected.
3. Place the first material at the end of the
cables.
4. Note how much electricity the multimeter
measures.
5. Repeat #3 and #4 with each material, and
do it three times.
6. Compare
Pictures
Data Table

Materials Experiment 1 Experiment 2 Experiment 3 Average

No Material 2.86 2.87 2.88 2.87

Metal (Aluminium) 2.84 2.73 2.76 2.78

Metal (Copper) 2.49 2.02 2.57 2.36

Fabric 0 0 0 0.00

Carton 0 0 0 0.00

Styrofoam 0 0 0 0.00

Plastic 0 0 0 0.00

Water 1.74 1.36 1.6 1.57

Graph

3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
Experiment 1
1 Experiment 2
0.5 Experiment 3
0
Results

When no materials are used, that is both

cables are touching each other directly, a
maximum current is form because electricity
flows easily.

This also happens when you use water or

metal (aluminium or copper) but at a lower
level.

Fabric, carton, styrofoam nor plastic conducts

electricity.
Conclusions

My hypothesis was correct.

From all the materials tested, metal, which in
this case means aluminum and copper, was
the best conductor of electricity.
Abstract

Electricity is not conducted the same by every material.

An experiment was performed by Roman Padierne to test
whether electricity flows best through water, metal or fabric.
Batteries were tested to see if they were full of electricity. Then a
circuit was created and connected to a multimeter to measure
the amount of electricity. After that, all materials were tested one
by one and compared.
It was observed that when no materials are used a maximum
current is formed because electricity flows easily. This also
happens, but a t a lower level, when water or metal are used.
Fabric, carton, styrofoam nor plastic conducted electricity.
It was concluded that from all the materials tested, metal was the
best conductor of electricity.
Thanks !!!