Final answer:
The statement that a vacuum tube can only exist in one of two states - conductive and non-conductive - is True. It either allows electron flow, making it similar to a conductor, or it does not, making it act like an insulator.
Step-by-step explanation:
True or False: A vacuum tube can only exist in one of two states - conductive and non-conductive. This statement is True. A vacuum tube operates by controlling the flow of electrons in a vacuum and can indeed be in one of two states: conductive, where electrons can flow, or non-conductive, where electron flow is blocked.
Conductors are materials that allow electrons to move relatively freely (such as metals and the human body), whereas insulators, also known as non-conductors, do not allow electrons to move freely through them (such as plastic and glass). Therefore, in a vacuum tube, when it is conductive, it acts similar to a conductor, and when it is non-conductive, it acts as an insulator.
When you apply this understanding to multiple choice question options:
- a. conductor and insulator
- b. semiconductor and insulator
- c. conductor and superconductor
- d. conductor and semiconductor
you can see that the correct option is
(a. conductor and insulator)
.