Question

I found these on wikipedia: An electrical conductor is a material (for example metal) which contains movable elctric charges. An non conductor or an insulator is a material that resists the flow of electric field. The questions are:
Electrostatics is about non conductors because an insulator resists the flow of electric field so the electrons inside an insulator are steady?
Can we think a non-conducting rod as a rope? How can we have a rope with a uniform positive charge? How can we charge a rope?
As referred to in the course notes course notes (p.5): "The point of these two animations (link)

Answer 1

Electrostatics is about conductors and non-conductors, in equilibrium - which all charge flow has come to a stop
Think of the non-conducting rod as a plastic rod (it could be flexible) - you can charge it by rubbing it - separate charges between the rod and the object you're rubbing with

Answer 2

Thank you stan!

Answer 3

electrostatics is the study of charges that are stationary i.e charges that are not in motion. An insulator inhibits the flow of electric current i.e it inhibits the flow of charge per unit time.Therefore charges sets up an electric field which does not flow.