Flip a switch and, instantly, your room brightens with lights. Plug in your phone, and your battery starts to revive within seconds. But what’s actually happening behind? We take those silent, unseen electricity flows inside our walls, the tiny wires that carry them from every corner. But we would never have thought about how it exactly works. How does electricity flow through wires?
In this article, let’s peel the insulation and see how electricity flows through wires and how simple pathways power our modern existence.
What is Electricity?
Electricity is the movement of particles called electrons. It is a widely used energy, the flow of power or charge. Power plants generate them, and electrical systems carry them, powering the world and reaching out to our homes, offices, and industries.
It has become one of the basic parts that we find hard to live without in the modern world. The primary sources of energy, like natural gas, wind energy, coal, nuclear energy, and solar heat, are converted into electrical power, and so it is known as secondary energy.
Before answering the question, “How Does Electricity Flow Through Wires?” it’s best to understand these terms below,
- Electric Charge – Either positive or negative property of matter. Negative charge is carried by electrons.
- Electric current – The flow of electric charge (usually electrons) through a wire. E.g. looks like water flowing through a pipe.
- Voltage – A force that pushes the electrons to move
- Resistance – A narrow section that slows down the electrons
How Does Electricity Flow Through Wires?
Electrons cannot easily flow in all materials because some materials restrict the movement of electrons. But conductors (metallic materials) help electrons to flow easily.
A wire is a tube filled with particles. It’s like a pathway that lets electrons move from one end to the end. The electrons that move through the wire are the electric current, which is measured in amperes. The voltage that’s created by a battery, generator, or other sources gives electrical pressure and pushes the electrons through the wire. Nothing is lost or used; instead, the electrons are simply carried along at very high speeds, from 100 to 100 kilometers per second.
You might have gone through instances where you experience heat. This is when too many electrons are pushed through the wire (meaning a very high current), and so they bump into the atoms more often. If this gets hotter, the wire can melt or burn.
Fact: There are instances where electrons don’t carry electricity, instead
- Ions carry electricity in salt water to move through solutions
- Ions carry electricity in nerve cells
How does a bulb light up instantly when you flip a switch?
The charge doesn’t move instantly to light up the bulb. The electric field that’s created by the battery moves instantly, traveling through the wire and telling the electrons everywhere to start drifting. The electrons that are already moving inside the wire near the bulb at a speed will move at once when they feel the electric field.
Why Do Some Materials Conduct Better?
The ability of a material to let electric charge move is called conductivity. This depends on how freely electrons can move inside the material.
- Conductors let electrons move easily as they have a lot of free electrons that can carry electric current.
For example, copper, aluminum, and gold. Copper is used for electrical wiring because it gives very little resistance to the flow of electricity.
- Insulators don’t let electrons move freely because their electrons are tightly bound to their atoms, making it hard for the electric current to move.
For example, rubber, glass, and plastic. This is why the wires use rubber or plastic coating to keep the electricity inside safely.
- Semiconductors are in the middle. They are not that good at conducting electricity on their own, but will let current flow under certain conditions, like adding impurities or applying voltage.
For example, silicon, germanium, and more are mostly used in computer chips and solar panels.
How Does Electricity Flow Through Wires of Copper?
Copper is known for having better conductivity, and so it has been used for years in electrical wiring. It is highly ductile as it can be shaped into wires of various sizes and lengths. Electricity can travel through copper wire. When a voltage is applied across the wire, it creates an electric field that drifts the movement of electrons to move. These electrons flow through the wire, creating an electric current.
Why Copper?
- Low electrical resistance – less energy is lost as heat
- Highly durable – long lifespan, lessens the need for frequent replacements.
- Sustainable and recyclable – an environmentally friendly choice.
Conclusion
Now you have a better understanding of the questions “How does electricity flow through wires?” and “What happens when an electric current flows through a wire?”
To summarize, electricity flows through wires, pushing electrons along a path. In metal wires, electrons are already there, and they drift slowly when a voltage is applied. They power up your lights, charging devices, television, and all the appliances that keep your work on.
Zable Cable is a leading manufacturer of wires and cables. With expertise in producing high-quality wires, we provide our services to the diverse needs of industries worldwide. Contact us today to get all your wire requirements.
