Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated August 2025
Definition
An insulator is a material that does not allow electric charges (usually electrons) to move freely through it. It has high resistivity and does not conduct electricity easily.
In the context of insulators, polarization refers to the separation of positive and negative charges within a material when subjected to an external electric field.