How do electrons move in a solid metal?

Question

I earlier used to think that the atoms of metals and other solids are compactly bound. But the principle of the conduction of electricity through metals by using the so called free electrons has bafflled me. Please explain the nature of their freedom and their movement.

To Grace and Steven B.
You have given such useful information but my question is still the same. Do the free electrons move freely in the conductors? If yes, how? What is the space relatively about between two atoms of a metal?

No Wikipedia please!

Answer 1

Electrons in a solid metal often flow from atom to atom, which explains why metals are so easily ionized into postive ions (it's also why metals are so conductive!). Imagine it sort of like a "sea" of electrons, where they are constantly moving and being transferred from atom to atom.

Keep in mind, electrons move at the speed of light, so it's really hard to understand this concept in terms of orbitals when the electrons constantly change what atoms they are moving around.

Answer 2

Current in a metal wire

In solid conductive metal, with no external forces applied, there exists a random motion of free electrons created by the thermal energy that the electrons gain from the surrounding medium. When an atom loses a free electron, it acquires a net positive charge. The free electron can move amongst these positive ions, while the positive ions can only oscillate about their mean fixed positions. The free electron is therefore the charge carrier in a typical solid conductor. Given an imaginary plane through which the wire passes, the number of electrons moving from one side to the other in any period of time is exactly equal to the number passing in the opposite direction.

When a wire is connected across the two terminals of a DC voltage source such as a battery, the source places an electric field across the conductor. The moment contact is made, the free electrons of the conductor will drift toward the positive terminal under the influence of this field. For every ampere of current, 1 coulomb of electric charge (which consists of about 6.242 × 1018 electrons) drifts every second at the same velocity through the imaginary plane through which the conductor passes.

The current I in amperes can be calculated with the following equation:

I= Q/t
where

Q : is the electric charge in coulombs (ampere seconds)
t: is the time in seconds
It follows that:
Q= I * t
and t= Q/I

Source : Wikipedia

Answer 3

Yes.

Answer 4

like moon rotating the earth

Answer 5

Check this out
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/phy00/phy00989.htm

Answer 6

If their spinning, their moving.

Answer 7

unless they r heated