Copper is better conductor of electricity than silver.But in the overhead cables silver is used instead of copper?what is the reason?
Silver is the best conductor but it is not used because it is more expensive than copper. Only in some cases silver is used
Copper is so commonly used as a conductor that it seems to be the best one. However, silver is the best conductor of electricity. Copper comes after that. Since silver is expensive, copper is more commonly used.
In fact silver is a better conductor of electricity than copper but copper wires are used at places where these are not directly exposed to the atmosphere as copper turns green forming copper carbonate and oxide etc, In case of overhead cables these cables remain exposed to the atmosphere hence in place of copper silver is preferred.
