Electric current misconception

AI Thread Summary
Electric current misconceptions often arise from misunderstandings about electron movement within wires. When a light switch is activated, it is the Lorentz force that causes electrons to move, not just a single electron traveling from the switch to the lamp. This force affects all electrons, but primarily the valence electrons in metals are responsible for current flow. The drift velocity of electrons is slow, but the effect of the electric field propagates quickly, allowing the lamp to light almost instantaneously. Understanding the Lorentz force and electric fields is crucial for grasping how electric current works in circuits.
Amr Elsayed
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Hello everyone,
I have a problem which is a conceptual misunderstanding concerning electric current.
I understand that different charges attract and like charges repell, I want to know what really happens inside the wire so a lamp lights immediately when we press on the light button.
an electron takes much time to travel short distances "drift velocity" so it's not the same electron that lights the lamp and come back immediately " as I learned in middle school". I now think of it like there is some force that causes all the electrons or at least 1 electron from each atom to move. Is it right ? what exactly is that force and what caused it ?
Hint: I have no idea what an electric field is
 
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It's okay to provide me with a good detailed source to understand the whole thing, would you recommend anything ?
 
DaleSpam said:
The force is called the Lorentz force
so this lorentz force affects all the electrons in the wire setting them in motion ??
 
It affects all of the electrons and all of the protons also. However most protons and electrons are subject to pretty strong additional forces. So only the valence electrons move much in a typical metal.
 
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