eli5 | Why does Insulation exist if “air is a very good insulator”?

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This has bothered me ever since I first heard the phrase as a kid.

If air is a good insulator, why do we fill things with insulating material? (Ex: walls with fiberglass, coats with cotton)

I realize these things are very porous, so hold a lot of air. But by them being used at all, must mean air isn’t that great on its own.

Is it just a matter of air is only “good” and other stuff is just even better? Or is it just considered good by being a bad conductor?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Solid insulators can hold stuff together. Fluid, like air, can’t. Likewise, a vacuum can’t either.

Also, the characteristics of air can slightly change based on environmental factors, which can impact how good of an insulator is.

Edit: Lol! I totally thought this was about electrical insulation!! Leaving this here since every silly is a valuable silly.

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