Copper


Conductivity and cost make this an indispensable material for electrical products

 

Copper is the most famous of electrical materials, but why? What makes copper special and why is it still so important in the modern age? See the video below where the Edison Tech Center and the Minerals Education Coalition tell the complete story of copper and what it is used for.

From mining to processing, to molecular structure the 19 minute film below will take on a unique journey:

 

To get a hard copy, order a DVD here.

 



Copper in our Electrical World in sections:


If you are an educator and want to highlight just one techology or concept you can use the separate sections of the video.

Part 1: Intro and we smash apart electronics to show how copper is everywhere.
Part 2: Geology of copper
Part 3: Copper processing: hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy
Part 4: Properties of copper: the science copper and why it's good for electrical applications.
Part 5: Copper in wires and electromagnets
Part 6: Copper in generators and wireless
Part 7: Integrated circuits and conclusion

Copper is used in:
Wires
Generators
Electric Motors
Transformers
Radio transmission
Speakers (the loud speaker)

Learn more about electromagnetism and induction here.

More ETC videos on Copper:

Welding Copper and Aluminum - from the inventor of the technique:

 

 

See more on materials used in electronics and the electrical industry: Iron and Steel, Semiconductors

 

The Minerals in our Electrical World Series is brought to you by the ETC and the Minerals Education Coalition:

 

Related Topics:

All types of Electric Motors

Wires and Cables

Induction Motors

Iron, Electrical Steel and Magnetism

Transformers

Dynamos and Generators

For use of Edison Tech Center images and videos see our licensing agreement.