Cathodic Protection Tester Practice Exam

In terms of electric conductivity, resistance is typically highest in which type of material?

1. Conductors

2. Insulators

3. Semiconductors

4. Superconductors

The correct answer is: Insulators

The civil engineers and professionals working with electric conductivity understand that resistance is a measure of how much a material opposes the flow of electric current. Insulators are characterized by their very high resistance, which means they do not conduct electricity well at all. This property makes them essential in various applications, such as in electrical wiring where you want to prevent stray currents from passing through unwanted paths. In contrast, conductors have low resistance and allow electric current to flow easily, while semiconductors possess a resistance level that can vary depending on conditions such as temperature or the addition of impurities. Superconductors, on the other hand, have zero resistance at very low temperatures, which allows them to conduct electricity without any energy loss. Thus, when considering electric conductivity and the material with the highest resistance, insulators stand out as the correct choice, confirming their role in effectively preventing the flow of electric current.