A question about an electron’s movement in a DC circuit

In summary, the electric current is very slow in the copper cable and in a AC circuit the FREE ELECTRONS are in fact moving back and forth. But in a DC circuit, if enough long time is given, will a specific electron finally move though the cable and power source and come to the point it started motion? That is my question.
  • #36
Tiger said:
I got the poit now. The higher the voltage, the faster the electrons move. Thank you
But be careful here and reread @mitochan’s post #3 in this thread about drift velocities. It’s the drift velocity that’s increasing with the voltage, not the speed the electrons are moving at. (The drift velocity is, loosely speaking, the difference between the average speed when they’re heading one direction and when they’re heading the other direction as they bounce randomly around)
 
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  • #37
Nugatory said:
But be careful here and reread @mitochan’s post #3 in this thread about drift velocities. It’s the drift velocity that’s increasing with the voltage, not the speed the electrons are moving at. (The drift velocity is, loosely speaking, the difference between the average speed when they’re heading one direction and when they’re heading the other direction as they bounce randomly around)
Yes. I got that. The velocity they randomly move around is very fast but the drift velocity as current is much lower,which is related to the voltage in the circuit. Thank you guys. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
 
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  • #38
Nugatory said:
But be careful here and reread @mitochan’s post #3 in this thread about drift velocities. It’s the drift velocity that’s increasing with the voltage, not the speed the electrons are moving at. (The drift velocity is, loosely speaking, the difference between the average speed when they’re heading one direction and when they’re heading the other direction as they bounce randomly around)
The drift velocity is the macroscopic velocity of the "electron fluid", i.e., it's a quantity averaged over macroscopically small but microscopically large "fluid elements", i.e., the thermal motion is averaged out.
 
<h2>1. What is an electron's movement in a DC circuit?</h2><p>The movement of an electron in a DC (direct current) circuit refers to the flow of electrons from the negative terminal to the positive terminal of a power source, such as a battery or power supply.</p><h2>2. How does an electron move in a DC circuit?</h2><p>An electron moves in a DC circuit due to the presence of an electric field created by the power source. The negative terminal of the power source repels the negatively charged electrons, causing them to move towards the positive terminal.</p><h2>3. What factors affect the movement of an electron in a DC circuit?</h2><p>The movement of an electron in a DC circuit can be affected by several factors, including the strength of the electric field, the resistance of the circuit, and the type of material the electrons are moving through.</p><h2>4. Why is the movement of electrons important in a DC circuit?</h2><p>The movement of electrons is essential in a DC circuit as it allows for the flow of electric current, which is necessary for powering electronic devices and completing various electrical tasks.</p><h2>5. How can the movement of electrons be controlled in a DC circuit?</h2><p>The movement of electrons can be controlled in a DC circuit by adjusting the voltage of the power source, changing the resistance in the circuit, or using electronic components such as resistors, capacitors, and diodes to regulate the flow of electrons.</p>

1. What is an electron's movement in a DC circuit?

The movement of an electron in a DC (direct current) circuit refers to the flow of electrons from the negative terminal to the positive terminal of a power source, such as a battery or power supply.

2. How does an electron move in a DC circuit?

An electron moves in a DC circuit due to the presence of an electric field created by the power source. The negative terminal of the power source repels the negatively charged electrons, causing them to move towards the positive terminal.

3. What factors affect the movement of an electron in a DC circuit?

The movement of an electron in a DC circuit can be affected by several factors, including the strength of the electric field, the resistance of the circuit, and the type of material the electrons are moving through.

4. Why is the movement of electrons important in a DC circuit?

The movement of electrons is essential in a DC circuit as it allows for the flow of electric current, which is necessary for powering electronic devices and completing various electrical tasks.

5. How can the movement of electrons be controlled in a DC circuit?

The movement of electrons can be controlled in a DC circuit by adjusting the voltage of the power source, changing the resistance in the circuit, or using electronic components such as resistors, capacitors, and diodes to regulate the flow of electrons.

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