Students predict the common classroom items, such as paper clips, chalk, keys, or erasers, that will be good conductors in a circuit. They build circuits using a variety of circuit diagrams to test their predictions.

Students investigate the effect of different container materials on heat transfer; draws a conclusion about the best insulator; and applies concept to a new, seemingly quite different problem.

Students explore conductivity and productivity in aquatic systems.

Students participate in an online lesson to explain the conductivity of different materials and the effect of changing the power source.

Explore the origin of energy bands in crystals of atoms. The structure of these bands determines how materials conduct electricity. Java required.

Experiment with conductivity in metals, plastics and photoconductors. See why metals conduct and plastics don't, and why some materials conduct only when you shine a flashlight on them. Java required.

Students use conductivity meters to measure various salt and water solutions, as indicated by the number of LEDs (light emitting diodes) that illuminate on the meter. Students create calibration curves using known amounts of table salt...

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Defines electrolyte, nonelectrolyte, and discusses the conductivity of solutions.

Lists thermal conductivity values for a variety of topics. The link "Heat conduction discussion" on this page displays an equation for calculating the rate of thermal conduction using these conductivity values.