- #1
pardesi
- 339
- 0
how does an electron 'flow' in a circuit ...can someone please explain me the detailled mechanism ...
pardesi said:can't it be more detailled?as to how when connected toa battery the electrons start flowing?
What happens is that as soon as you hook up the wire to the battery, electrons move onto the surface of the wire at one end (and off of the wire surface at the other end), just as they would on any conducting surface. A small charge gradient is quickly built up along the surface of the wire, which creates the electric field within the wire that drives the current.pardesi said:well i still don't get it why do the elctrons ever move insid ethe wire..if it is due to the field due to battery or any other source then that should depend on orientataion of wire...so what actually does make the electron move
Doc Al said:What happens is that as soon as you hook up the wire to the battery, electrons move onto the surface of the wire at one end (and off of the wire surface at the other end), just as they would on any conducting surface. A small charge gradient is quickly built up along the surface of the wire, which creates the electric field within the wire that drives the current.
Yes, this redistribution of charge takes place very quickly. Realize that charges don't need to travel the length of the wire, they just have to shift a bit to create the electric field.Emanresu said:Doc Al, I always thought that the field in a circuit propogated at c such that a bulb many kilometers away from a switch would turn on almost instantly. Can the gradient you talk about really propogate that fast ?
Electron flow in a circuit refers to the movement of electrons through a closed loop or path. This flow of electrons is what creates an electric current and allows for the transfer of energy and information in a circuit.
Electron flow in a circuit is driven by a voltage difference between two points in the circuit, known as the potential difference. Electrons are negatively charged particles, so they naturally flow from an area of high potential (positive terminal) to an area of low potential (negative terminal).
The direction of electron flow in a circuit is opposite to the direction of conventional current flow. This means that electrons flow from the negative terminal of a battery towards the positive terminal, while conventional current flows from the positive terminal towards the negative terminal. This is because conventional current flow was defined before the discovery of electrons and is based on the direction of flow of positive charges.
Electron flow in a circuit is typically measured using a device called an ammeter. This instrument measures the flow of electrons, or current, in a circuit and is usually connected in series with the component being measured. The unit of measurement for electron flow is amperes (A).
Yes, electron flow in a circuit can be controlled by using components such as resistors, capacitors, and transistors. These components can either restrict or enhance the flow of electrons, allowing for the manipulation of current in a circuit. This is the basis of electronics and allows for the creation of various devices and technologies.