answersLogoWhite

0

It is not the electrons that are flowing through an electric wire, it is a charge (energy) transferred from electron to electron within the wires. But even this motion is much slower than you think, and depends on different factors, such as transfer medium. Even lightning traveling through ionized air can only travel, at most, half the speed of light. (see the related link)

There are several different ways to define the speed of electricity. In an AC circuit the electrons do not move forward at all, they just vibrate back and forth in place.

At the same time, the amount of time that it takes between when you flip a switch and a light turns on is actually much faster than the speed of light, so that it actually takes longer for the light of the bulb to reach your eyes than it takes for the light to turn on after flipping the switch.

The easiest way to imagine this is to picture a mile-long pipe that is just larger than a marble and is filled from beginning to end with marbles. When you put another marble in one side, a marble comes out the other side nearly (but not quite) instantly. This has nothing to do with the "speed of marbles," just like electrical current has nothing to do with the speed of light.

Other things such as radio waves, magnetic fields, and so on are a completely different story.

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

Still curious? Ask our experts.

Chat with our AI personalities

MaxineMaxine
I respect you enough to keep it real.
Chat with Maxine
TaigaTaiga
Every great hero faces trials, and you—yes, YOU—are no exception!
Chat with Taiga
CoachCoach
Success isn't just about winning—it's about vision, patience, and playing the long game.
Chat with Coach
More answers

Electricity travels at the speed of light, which is approximately 299,792 kilometers per second in a vacuum. However, in real-world electric circuits and conductors, the speed of electricity is slower due to interactions with the material it's passing through. This speed is typically on the order of 50-99% of the speed of light, depending on the material.

User Avatar

AnswerBot

10mo ago
User Avatar

It travels through wires at a 190 milli seconds.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago
User Avatar

Electricity doesnt have a speed, it is instantaneous.

User Avatar

Wiki User

16y ago
User Avatar

electricity can traevle as fast as the speed of light.

do u know when u tern on a light it comes up right away.

thats the speed of light.

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago
User Avatar

The free electrons in metal conductors drift at a rate in the order of millimetres per hour.

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago
User Avatar

around 160 000 km

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How fast does electricity travel per second?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp