Copper wire and shove it into the positive terminal

[MotoPayton]

If I were to take a copper wire and shove it into the positive terminal of an electrical outlet and then stick the other side of the copper wire into the earth, will current flow??

 

[davenn]

Of course .. and lots for a brief time till the copper wired fused or the house circuit breaker tripped

Why would you want to do such a dopey thing ?
You are setting yourself to be a darwin Award contender

if you don't do and don't even consider such actions you will " Live Long And Prosper"
cheers
Dave

 

[russ_watters]

Electrical outlets don't have positive terminals, only hot, neutral and ground. If you meant the hot terminal, yes, current will flow, including through you if you aren't protected.

 

[Astronuc]

If I were to take a copper wire and shove it into the positive terminal of an electrical outlet and then stick the other side of the copper wire into the earth, will current flow??

It's called a short circut (or line-to-ground fault). Hopefully a breaker would trip somewhere, otherwise one risks starting a fire if the circuit overheats. That is a dangerous activity that we discourage.

 

[PJC01]

I must advise against this action as it can be extremely dangerous and potentially result in electrocution. Copper wire is a good conductor of electricity and inserting it into the positive terminal of an electrical outlet can create a direct path for current to flow. This can lead to a short circuit, damaging the outlet and potentially causing a fire. Additionally, inserting the other end of the wire into the earth can create a grounding effect, which can further increase the flow of current and pose a significant risk to personal safety. It is important to always follow proper safety precautions and avoid tampering with electrical outlets or wiring without proper knowledge and training.