- #1
arun_mid
- 30
- 0
What is electric current?
Let me explain my idea of it with an example of a long wire connected to the two terminals of a battery. The battery applies an electric field to the surrounding, causing a shift in the position of the electrons of the wire, especially the ones nearby. The speed and number of electrons that shift depend on the material. The shift of these nearby electrons causes change in the electric field distribution, so more electrons nearby shift, causing further change, and so on, like a stack of dominoes. This change in electric fields takes place at the speed of light. So the current is said to move at the speed of light, although the electrons take quite some time (compared to c anyway) to shift even an infinitesimal distance.
Is this right?
If not, please try to explain current using fields rather than 'pd causes current' stuff. I agree that it does but it would be a lot clearer to me if fields were used to explain it. I'm sure there isn't much difference.
Let me explain my idea of it with an example of a long wire connected to the two terminals of a battery. The battery applies an electric field to the surrounding, causing a shift in the position of the electrons of the wire, especially the ones nearby. The speed and number of electrons that shift depend on the material. The shift of these nearby electrons causes change in the electric field distribution, so more electrons nearby shift, causing further change, and so on, like a stack of dominoes. This change in electric fields takes place at the speed of light. So the current is said to move at the speed of light, although the electrons take quite some time (compared to c anyway) to shift even an infinitesimal distance.
Is this right?
If not, please try to explain current using fields rather than 'pd causes current' stuff. I agree that it does but it would be a lot clearer to me if fields were used to explain it. I'm sure there isn't much difference.