Why Don't Electrons Leave Metal When Connected to Positive Terminal?

AI Thread Summary
Electrons do not leave the metal when only connected to the positive terminal of a battery due to the absence of a complete circuit; current requires a closed loop. The presence of free electrons in the metal does not guarantee movement toward the positive terminal without a return path to the negative terminal. In a direct current system, electrons flow from the negative terminal through the circuit and back, which is necessary for current to flow. The positive terminal attracts electrons, but without a connection to the negative terminal, there is no driving force for them to leave the metal. Thus, a complete circuit is essential for the flow of electricity.
Peter4444
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I can't understand this and i would be appreciate if somebody help me.

If in the metal we have a very big number of free electrons they should go to the positive therminal of the batery even if the other end of the wire is not conected to the negative therminal.What stops them.The copper wire have so much free electrons so it can act as a source of electricity and we all know that batery is the source of direct current.



According to the physics there is no current flow when you conect a wire just to the positive therminal.Now,the electrons are negative and they are moving and we have positive ions in the posivitive therminal.Why don't the electrons leave the metal.What stops them to go to the positive therminal.
 
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I believe that it is possible for free electrons to flow through the battery itself without the need for a wire, but it wouldn't be desirable.
 

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