Which is a better insulator, zinc, copper, tin, or aluminum? Why?
96721
actually none of those make good insulators, they are all a type of metal or combination there of. if anything they are all conductors, not insulators. if you need a good insulator glass, or porcelain, for PVC and i guess it also depends on what you are trying to insulate but those choices are not good for insulating anything.
632924
good conductors are material with very tight atomic structure. Remember you are talking about electron flow here. they flow best and easies through material with very tight atomic make up like lead gold copper aluminum silver so forth. Most good conductors are non ferrous metals. This means If you heat them up to melting point they will not get red hot first, you will see very little color change in them from solid to liquid state.
14690
Mercury is probably the best metal as it is liquid at room temperature.  This also means that you will have to have a horizontal mirror.
269316
There are many types but all work on the principle that different semiconductors (i.e conducts electricity under certain conditions) placed together can turn on larger currents in another circuit.\nThe metals usually used are Germanium, Gallium, Asenide or compound of these including Silicon and Aluminium.\nYou might want to look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transistor for more detailed info.
332542
Copper is a pure metal. The conductivity of metals increase with temparature owing to decrease in the vibration of the +ve ions in the crystal lattice. Germanium is a semiconductor. Its conductivity decreases with temparature. Hence copper has more conductivity than Ge at low temps.
169788
Because if you use bad insulators like metal the energy will escape as heat therefore increase the temperature during summer but if you use a good insulator that energy won't escape thus not increasing the temperature or anything not needed (energy that is ).
83741
Aluminum: 900 J/kg/K\nCopper: 380 J/kg/K\n\nSo, yes. Aluminum has a higher specific heat and therefore a higher "amount of heat [is] required to change a unit mass of [aluminum] by one unit of temperature [than copper]." Why? Since specific heat is related to the excitation of the atoms and how well they hold heat, I would guess aluminum atoms bind to each other tighter and resists an increase in atomic motion (which would appear to us as an increase in temperature).
873847
Loads of data here...\nFirst, I guess you mean "overhead" cable.\nThe reasons are simple:\n1. The OUTER shell of the cable is made of several strands of ALUMINIUM.  Reasons: 1. Although not the lowest electrical resistance (copper is better), it is much cheaper than copper (ratio 14/4 cheaper). 2. The good conductivity of the outershell allows the "pellicular effect" of the current to flow in an easy manner.  The problem of aluminium is that it cannot support its own weight over long distances and will break.\n2. The CENTER core is made of STEEL.  Reasons: it is cheap and offer high traction resistance.\nSo, Alu for current and Steel for mechanical resistance.
929944
Nickel is harder than copper and provides better penetration into the target. Copper is softer and tends to mushroom much faster once it enters its target. \nIf you want penetration go for the nickel\nIf you want displacement go for the copper
878521
Copper. It is so brilliant
758041
brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, unless we have its composition, we cant tell its specific heat.
288186
Carbon and ceramics are good insulators.\n\nGood conductors are copper and gold, to name a few.
940458
Of the ones you listed Aluminum would be the best mostly because it is a metal.
852236
I would say Aluminum Chloride. (AlCl3)
940188
Tungsten has at least three times the melting point of copper, and they are both conductors, but when it comes to electricity, Copper is the winner, because Tungsten has more resistance to electricity therefore it is less conductive than Copper.\n\nTungsten due to its resistance is used in Light bulbs,\nand copper, which is more malleble  is used in mostly covering wires.\n\nHope it helps,
470377
A substance as germanium or silicon whose electrical conductivity is intermediate between that of a metal and an insulator.
443503
Ceramic is a poor conductor, therefore it is an insulator!  It will keep your coffee hot longer.  Tin is a good conducter, so it will let your coffee cool faster.