A good insulator is a material that does not easily allow heat or electricity to pass through it. It acts as a barrier, preventing the flow of heat or electricity. Out of the given options, rubber is a good insulator.
Rubber is made up of long chains of molecules that are closely packed together. These chains do not allow the easy movement of heat or electricity. This means that when heat or electricity tries to pass through rubber, it encounters resistance, making it difficult for it to flow.
In contrast, materials like silver, water, and copper are good conductors rather than insulators.
Silver is an excellent conductor of electricity and heat because its atoms have loosely bound electrons that are free to move. This allows for the easy transfer of heat or electricity throughout the material.
Water is also a good conductor of both heat and electricity. It contains charged particles called ions that can carry electric current. Additionally, water molecules are able to transfer heat through convection.
Copper is widely used in electrical wiring because it is an excellent conductor of electricity. Like silver, its atoms have free electrons that can move easily and transfer electrical energy.
Therefore, rubber is the material that serves as a good insulator, while silver, water, and copper are good conductors of heat and electricity.