Does electricity actually flow through the wire or around the wire??

Answer 1

Read somewhere that conventional, scientist thought that electricity flows through the wire, but they discovered that it's wrong. They have proven that electricity actually flow by way of free electron flowing just outside of the wire.

Answer 2

ACTUALLY, it does both, in a sense.

Electrical current, as you probably already understand, is a flow of negatively charged particles called electrons.

While it is true that the electrons are confined to the wire (they cannot flow outside of the wire) it is sometimes found that the entire wire does NOT conduct electrical current, and only a thin layer AROUND the edge does.

This is called the "Skin Effect" and is described by the theory of electromagnetism.

Hence, my point is justified; in a sense, electricity flows both through and around the wire, (but my definition of around may be different to yours ;)

Answer 3

I m astounded by the number of "absolute" answers here... that are without reference or validity. Do folks just post their opinions, or does anyone here actually research their answers?

The "Skin Effect" indicates that the higher the frequency, the more the energy flows on the surface of the wire. SOME flows through the wire, but in most instances the majority of energy flows toward the outside-- along the path of LEAST RESISTANCE. Current is not composed of electrons; it is composed of the flow of energy created by electrons and moves much faster than the electrons themselves. Electrons are all along and through the wire, but the energy they create moves to the outside edge of the wire IN ALL INSTANCES.

Magnetic field exists both at the surface and OUTSIDE the wire itself (sometimes a considerable distance) and is by no means confined to the wire or surface of the wire.

Seriously folks, if you re going to answer these forums at least make sure you know the difference between an electron and current.

Answer 4

See: http://amasci.com/miscon/speed.html

Part of this addresses your question exactly. It's really interesting.

A.S. that may be true, but I've seen some pretty thick solid "wire" connectors, as well as solid "bus bars," and I think it has a lot to do with the old Hertz factor. Somehow, the higher the frequency, the greater is the tendency of current to flow more rapidly on the skin. Also, some wire, that we're familiar with around the home, is stranded for flexibility.

Again, I refer to the above link. Thx.

Answer 5

Well, Electricity flows around the wire (apologies to all who wrote other wise). to prove what i say i will give you a simple example which will explain, when we need a wire of thick diameter, we choose lots of thin wires & bend them together rather then creating a single piece of thick wire... which is because the more the surface area, the less the collision & hence more electrcity trasfer with less loss on same size of wire......

Answer 6

Do some research on Nikola Tesla and Van De Graaf (yep the inventor of the wonderfully fun van de graaf generator used to "shock" and amaze your friends in physics class). The elctrons in an electric current flow ALONG, not through, the wire or conductor surface.

Answer 7

electricity flows inside the wire, or you can say through the wire. Not aorund the wire

Answer 8

electric current flows through the wire. magnetic field is induced around the wire.

Answer 9

They dont have sufficient kinetic power to conquer the flair from the atoms. yet or direction in certain situations electrons should be ripped of the conductor, seem how an X-ray tube works for instance. The electrons are not any more totaly loose. they're guaranteed to the crystal (the cord), yet no longer as certain because the non-valence electrons are. The electron in the cord as (mean)velocites about 10^6 m/s, notwithstanding the waft speed (the speed the electrons receives more effective because of the utilized electric powered container) is largely about 1mm/s! and also you sould also perchance seem on the hall effect, attempt to google it and observe in case you get wiser. bear in mind, an electron on a cord continues to be area of an atom. that is in touch in the atom's protons via an same magnetic stress that the different atom has. notwithstanding the ingredient about metals is that once you position a good type of atoms mutually, they act like one crew of blended prices, allowing the electrons to be cellular as long as they maintain the perfect fee more effective or less impartial. Now what if we make the perfect fee adverse? have you ever heard of a van de Graff generator? It makes use of a belt and brushes to strip electrons and positioned them on a metallic sphere very similar for your shoes strip electrons off a carpet once you shuffle your ft. those electrons do prefer to bounce off the metallic sphere and they assemble on the floor of the sector, slowly dissipating into the ambience. provide them an more convenient course (like via your finger), and they are going to bounce off unexpectedly, bringing the fee on the metallic sphere again into equilibrium.

Answer 10

basically electricity is the flow of electrons when a potential difference is applied.so electricity flows inside the wire