Are the electrons in conductor with current repel?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the behavior of electrons in a conductor carrying current, specifically whether they repel each other and how this affects their movement within a closed circular loop. The scope includes conceptual and technical aspects of electron interactions in conductive materials.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested, Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether electrons in a conductor with current repel each other while moving in a closed circular loop.
  • Another participant asserts that electrons always repel each other due to their identical electrical charge, suggesting this repulsion affects their speed.
  • A further contribution reiterates the idea that electron repulsion slows their movement in a conductor, but another participant challenges this by stating that the actual slowing is due to interactions with the metal lattice rather than repulsion alone.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the impact of electron repulsion on their movement in conductors. While some agree that electrons repel each other, there is disagreement regarding the primary reason for their slower movement, with one perspective attributing it to lattice interactions rather than repulsion.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include assumptions about the nature of electron interactions and the complexity of factors influencing electron mobility in conductors, which are not fully resolved in the discussion.

scientist91
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Are the electrons in conductor with current repel? When they move in conductor with current on closed circular loop, are they repelling? http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/260/electronrepelgt9.gif"
 
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Electron's always repel other electrons, no matter where they are. They still have the same electrical sign where ever they are, which causes tem to repel each other.
 
G01 said:
Electron's always repel other electrons, no matter where they are. They still have the same electrical sign where ever they are, which causes tem to repel each other.
So that causes to not move so fast, when there is current in conductor, right?
 
scientist91 said:
So that causes to not move so fast, when there is current in conductor, right?

The electrons move slower than you would expect in a conductor, but not for these reasons. The reason they move slower than what you would expect is because they interact(collide) with the atoms in the metal lattice. This slows them down, so they have to speed back up afterwards. This is why they move slower than you'd expect.
 

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