I am new to electronics. I read electricity works this way: some atoms have more electrons than protons. These free electrons flow through a conductor such as a copper wire. However, to induce flow of electrons we need a source to push the electrons such as a battery.
Does this mean the free electrons from the conductor itself (copper) flow or does that mean electrons inside the battery flows?
(If free electrons from the copper flow, wouldn't copper eventually run out of its free electrons?)
Best Answer
No, they have the same number but some of the electrons have more freedom to move.
Yes. They jiggle about randomly relatively fast (~2 x 10^6 m/s). In the presence of an electric field, they very slowly drift in one direction ( ~1 m/h).
No, as many are added at one end of a piece of copper as are lost at the other end.
See