0
The free electrons in metal conductors drift at a rate in the order of millimetres per hour.
Still curious? Ask our experts.
Chat with our AI personalities
Steve
Blake
FranI think you'll find that electricity doesn't actually travel at all. Well, it actually travels at 84mm per day!
Because the electrons are already in the wire, they just have to be pushed, it appears to travel at the speed of light, but the actual electrons move at a rate of only 84mm per day. If you had an electric wire 300,000km long and applied an electric current through it, it would take one second for each electron to make one move. This also means that it would take 1 second before the circuit is complete, and the device activates. But, nothing is that long so you can think of it as the speed of light.
See related link below.
An electric current typically travels at about 2/3 of the speed of light in a vacuum. Note that this is the speed at which a signal will propagate; it is NOT the speed of the individual electrons.
Electricity travels at virtually the speed of light, which is approximately 670 million miles per hour (300 million meters per second) in a vacuum. However, in materials like wires, the speed is slower due to factors like resistance and capacitance, typically on the order of fractions of meters per second.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Some fast do light rays travel?
Yes, they travel some fast!
How fast does electricity travel through the best conductor?
In the best conductors, such as copper, electricity travels very quickly, close to the speed of light, which is approximately 186,000 miles per second in a vacuum. However, in practical conductors like wires, the speed at which electricity flows is much slower due to resistance and other factors.
How fast does electricity travel in one foot?
There are different speeds involved.* An electrical signal travels about 200,000 km/second in a wire - about 2/3 of the so-called "speed of light". * The drift velocity (average velocity) is typically less than a millimeter per second. * Individual electrons travel at a significant fraction of the speed of light.
Does electricity travel through all metals?
Yes, electricity can travel through all metals. Metals are good conductors of electricity due to their free-flowing electrons that can carry electrical charge. However, the efficiency of conducting electricity can vary depending on the type of metal used.
What kind of circuit can electricity travel in?
Electricity can travel in both closed circuits and open circuits. In closed circuits, there is a complete loop for the electricity to flow through, allowing devices to receive power. Open circuits, on the other hand, have a gap that interrupts the flow of electricity.
