Ontario Grade 9 Science Class Practice Exam

What feature characterizes an insulator?

1. It allows electricity to pass through it easily

2. It converts electrical energy into mechanical energy

3. It does not easily allow the movement of electrons through it

4. It conducts heat but not electricity

The correct answer is: It does not easily allow the movement of electrons through it

Insulators are materials that do not easily allow the movement of electrons through them, which means they do not conduct electricity. This is because they have tightly bound electrons which do not have enough energy to move freely within the material. This is why option A, which suggests that insulators allow electricity to pass through easily, is incorrect. Option B is incorrect because insulators do not convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. Similarly, option D is incorrect because insulators do not conduct electricity, so they cannot conduct heat through the movement of electrons.