Rafleiðandi

Rafleiðandi is an Icelandic term that translates to "electrical conductor" in English. It refers to any material that allows electric current to flow through it easily. This property is due to the presence of free electrons or ions within the material that can move when an electric potential difference is applied.

Common examples of electrical conductors include metals like copper, aluminum, and silver, which are widely used in electrical wiring and electronic components. Liquids containing dissolved ions, such as saltwater, can also act as conductors. Gases, under certain conditions, can become conductive, for instance, during electrical discharges like lightning.

The ability of a material to conduct electricity is quantified by its electrical conductivity, which is the inverse of its resistivity. High conductivity means the material offers very little resistance to the flow of electric current. Conversely, materials with very low conductivity are called insulators. The temperature of a conductor generally affects its conductivity; for most metallic conductors, conductivity decreases as temperature increases due to increased atomic vibrations hindering electron flow.