This Nobel Prize season, dive into the world of the super small for physics and chemistry. It's where the nanocars roam and phase transitions get really weird.

In this video Paul Andersen explains how electric permittivity of a material resists the formation of electric fields. Capacitors store energy be preventing the formation of electric fields in dielectric material. The electric...

One might not think that snow could help anything stay warm through a harsh winter, but these tiny bats have found a way to utilize the insulation provided by the snow: they make little forts to wait out the winter.

Plastics usually stop electricity in its tracks, but scientists have figured out a way to keep the electrons flowing.

We've all had the experience: you're walking across a soft carpet, you reach for the doorknob and - ZAP. But what causes this trademark jolt of static electricity? Anuradha Bhagwat sheds light on the phenomenon by examining the nature of...

In this video Paul Andersen explains how thermal conductivity measures the ability of material to transfer heat from a hot to a cold object. The thermal conductivity of conductors is high because the heat travels through the delocalized...

In this video Paul Andersen explains how the charge distribution can be affected my electric forces produced by a charged object. In an insulator charges are fixed but in conductors the charges can move. Induction occurs when the...

In this video Paul Andersen explains how the resistivity of a material opposes the flow of charge. Conductors (like metal) will have a low resistivity and insulators will have a high resistivity. Semiconductors will have a moderate...

Band Theory Dissection: Conduction in Various Substances

The band theory of solids is a fundamental concept in solid-state physics that explains the conduction of electricity in substances based on the arrangement of energy levels...

We put aerogel to the test vs 'not-a-flamethrower', a huge 2000°C flame to a large fiberglass blanket infused with silica aerogel - formerly the lightest solid (that title is now held by graphene aerogel).

A material whose electrical conductivity is in between that of a conductor and an insulator.
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A Twig Science
Glossary Film.
Key scientific terms defined in just 60 seconds using stunning images and concise...

What is resistance? Discover how it impedes electrical flow, and why understanding it can help us to build more effective circuits, and stay safe. Physics - Electricity And Circuits - Learning Points. Resistance is how well or poorly an...

A build up of static electricity is usually harmless, resulting in only small shocks. But in some cases it can be deadly. Discover the danger static electricity poses for helicopters and their crew. Physics - Electricity And Circuits -...

Material that conducts heat or electricity very poorly, and so can be used to provide some measure of protection. A Twig Science Glossary Film. Key scientific terms defined in just 60 seconds using stunning images and concise textual...

We use a metal box holding rods of different materials to test their ability to conduct heat. The box is filled with boiling water and a paperclip is attached to the end of each rod using petroleum jelly. As the heat moves through the...

How these simple semiconductor devices allow us to control the strength and flow of electrical current in a circuit, and are integral components in modern electrical equipment. Physics - Electricity And Circuits - Learning Points....

Did you know that marine mammals have a thick layer of fat, or blubber, that acts as an insulator?
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Material processes - Changing material
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- Insulation />

Learning Points
Thermal insulators...

How do insulators manage to keep the heat both in and out?
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Material processes - Changing material
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- Insulation />

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Insulators do not allow
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nergy to pass easily through...

How do these flasks work to keep drinks at a constant temperature?
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Material processes - Changing material
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- Insulation />

Learning Points
Thermal insulators do not allow heat e
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ergy to...

Find out what happens to a farmer who becomes part of an electrical circuit.
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Physical processes - Electricity and magnetism - Conductors and dangers
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f electricity />

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Find out what the difference is between a conductor and an insulator.
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Physical processes - Electricity and magnetism - Conductors and dangers
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f electricity />

Learning Points
Conductors...

Why does metal expand when it gets hot?
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Material processes - Changing materials - Expansion
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nd conduction />

Learning Points
Conductors are materials that allow
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nergy to flow easily...

If you were an alien who had just landed on Earth, what materials would you use to help you survive?
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Material processes - Classifying materials - Choosing suit
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Dr. Forrester explains the production of electricity and materials used to insulate and conduct it.