Why is copper wire a better conductor of electricity than carbon fiber?(1 point)
Copper (Cu) has no loose electrons.
Copper (Cu) is a metal, and only metals can conduct electricity.
The electrons in copper (Cu) are loosely bound to the nucleus.
Carbon (C) does not have any valence electrons.
The electrons in copper (Cu) are loosely bound to the nucleus, allowing them to move freely and carry the electric current. On the other hand, carbon fiber does not have free electrons and therefore cannot conduct electricity as effectively as copper wire.
The correct answer is: The electrons in copper (Cu) are loosely bound to the nucleus.
To understand why copper wire is a better conductor of electricity than carbon fiber, we need to consider the properties of both materials at the atomic level.
In copper, the outermost shell of copper atoms has one electron that is not tightly bound to the nucleus. These loosely bound electrons are often referred to as "free electrons." When an electric field is applied to copper, these free electrons can move easily through the material, carrying an electric current.
On the other hand, carbon fiber is composed mainly of carbon atoms. Carbon atoms have a total of four valence electrons, which are responsible for bonding with other atoms to form molecules. These valence electrons are involved in covalent bonding, where they are shared between carbon atoms in a strong and stable network. As a result, carbon fiber does not have free electrons that can move through the material and allow the flow of electrical current.
Therefore, copper wire is a better conductor of electricity than carbon fiber because the loosely bound electrons in copper can move easily and conduct electricity, while carbon fiber lacks free electrons for conducting electricity.
The correct answer is:
Copper (Cu) is a better conductor of electricity than carbon fiber for the following reasons:
- The electrons in copper are loosely bound to the nucleus, allowing them to move more freely and carry electrical charge.
- Copper is a metal, and metals generally have a higher number of free electrons available for conducting electricity.
- On the other hand, carbon fiber does not have any valence electrons that can easily move and carry electric charge, making it a poor conductor of electricity.