Why two wires used to carry electric current instead of a single one?

Answer 1

electrical circuits require a closed loop to allow current to flow

if you remove one it's the same thing as turning off a switch, which breaks the connection.

Both AC and DC circuits require a power source then a connection to a load then a return path to the power source.

Answer 2

Compare electricity with a pipe carying water.
The water pressure is the voltage and the flow is the current.
If you do not open the tap, the water will not flow, because it pushes and builds up pressure and has nowhere to go.
There has to be a load, or a 'user' to make electrons flow.There has to be a return line from the user to the power source to have a continual flow of electrons.
If the 'user' is too 'heavy' for the circuit, it is the same as basically touching the neg and pos wires together, which is called a dead short, and a circuit breaker is installed that is made to 'trip' at a value below the 'short' value, otherwise the wires will burn before the user or load burns or operates.

Answer 3

If I start pushing electrons toward you on a single wire, you would (very rapidly) become so negatively charged that I couldn't push any more charge to you without increasing my voltage -- to a point where I would be pushing electrons (charge) at almost infinite voltage. (You only have a finite capacitance for charge, you know). You would also rapidly become the 'attraction' of the universe, literally! For that matter so would I -- I would be so positive to your negative, it may cause a force greater than gravity and pull us together with much destruction ensuing.

This is not good. You should be giving me back some of those electrons (on another wire) so you don't get saturated with electrons.

Now, that said... it IS possible for you to use the Earth as a conductor to give me back my electrons (after they have performed their 'work' for you). In this case an apparent single wire may be used, with the Earth used as the return wire. This is done all the time in rural / farm electric hookups to save on copper wire.

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Answer 4

you need to use a single cord to flow a static electric fee. yet for an invaluable electric contemporary, you may continuously flow a great number of electrons. in case you have a line of human beings passing an apple a 2nd for an hour, you like 3600 apples. yet sort them right into a circle, and additionally you will do the comparable with only 1 apple in step with individual. In some poorer worldwide places, a single electric application cord may be used to hold electrical energy right into a house. if so, the floor is getting used as a return direction. it truly is below suitable difficulty. the floor has an more desirable resistance than the cord, and its conductivity varies with the aspects. intense currents flowing in the process the floor reasons different challenge, like corrosion of pipes, harm to worms, etc.

Answer 5

electricity is carried in 2 wires because there needs to be a flow of electrons in one direction in the material. theoretically you could use one wire to carry the electrons both way, but that would be like turning an interstate highway into a one lane road, but still allowing cars to go both ways down that road. alot of bad stuff happens. with 2 wires the electrons can flow to, and away from the object in use without unwanted interference.

Answer 6

Current must return to it's source usually via another conductor . it only flows if there is a potential difference (voltage) similar to a siphon causing water to flow from a high place to one lower. Testa is said to have found a way to do this without a second wire, but is this true?

Answer 7

Electricity is a circle, energized and non-energized,
a.k.a.
Positive and Negative, running them both on a single wire can cause a very hazardous effect on ones universe...