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mgb_phys
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Electrical current isn't really electron flow in the same way water flows down a pipe.
The first electron pushes the next electron which pushes the next electron and so on - they are all negatively charged so repel each other. That's how 'electricity' travels down a wire at near the speed of light while electrons themselves move through a conductor at walking pace.
It's more like fluid flow in a hydraulic system, the brake fluid under the brake pedal pushes the next molecule of fluid, which pushes the next and so on until the last molecule pushes the brake caliper piston.
The first electron pushes the next electron which pushes the next electron and so on - they are all negatively charged so repel each other. That's how 'electricity' travels down a wire at near the speed of light while electrons themselves move through a conductor at walking pace.
It's more like fluid flow in a hydraulic system, the brake fluid under the brake pedal pushes the next molecule of fluid, which pushes the next and so on until the last molecule pushes the brake caliper piston.