current is flowing in wire through core or surface?

Answer 1

I would like to tell 'Mastermind' and 'Jeremiah' to think a little more.

Take a chaged conducting sphere. Where does the charge reside? It resides on the surface.

So logically, I think that current flowing in the wire flows through the surface.

Answer 2

A steady direct current flowing in a conductor is distributed uniformly over the cross section of the conductor. The lines of magnetic flux are in circles whose centers lie on the axis of the conductor.

But when an A.C flows, the distribution of current is not uniform. The induced emf due to the change in current is stronger at the center of cross section than away from the center.

The result is that the current is concentrated in the outer layers or the skin of the conductor.
The effect is called skin effect.

This does not mean that there is no current along the axis of the conductor. There is more current away from the axis than along the axis.

To keep the resistance as low as possible, large surface area must be provided.

This is done by using stranded wires, the strands being insulated from each other.

Answer 3

The majority of the current flows at the surface.
With alternating current (AC), electrons flow more at the outer surface of the wire rather than through the middle. The higher the frequency, the more the skin effect and the greater the resistance. Stranded wire produces less skin effect than solid, because there is more surface area. The skin effect enables copper-clad steel wire to be used. The steel adds cable strength, and the current flows mostly through the better-conducting copper.
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9068110/skin-effect

Answer 4

Current from AC flows on the surface. This is why braided can carry more without over heating at the same total cross sectional area as a solid wire.

Answer 5

It is true that excess charge will build on the outside of a charged wire, but we're not talking about excess static charge, we are speaking about a full circuit. It only flows primarily at the surface with quickly alternating current. Otherwise it flows throughout the whole crosssectional area. This is why in the equation for resistance of a wire, cross-sectional area is used, and not surface area.

Answer 6

Current flows throughout the metal conductor--both through the core of the wire and across its surface.

EDIT: Despite what Ajay said, I stand by my answer--current flows throughout the cross section of the wire. While most may, in fact, travel across the surface, that was not the question asked.

Answer 7

Direct current flows uniformly through a uniform conductor. Alternating current exhibits skin effect (see reference), where the penetration depth decreases as the frequency increases. Stranded wire can help reduce the effect.

Answer 8

Most of it will be on the surface, where it will travel with the least resistance. If the current is increased however, more and more will travel trough the core.
The increased resistance will lead to more heat production, that's why copper cables have non-lineair limits in relation to their mass.

Answer 9

zee best is definitely on the brink of the terrific answer.. the present flow on the floor of the cord is stated as the "epidermis result". Take a 2d to think of and you will comprehend that electrons repeleach different, so they attempt to stay as a strategies aside as accessible the terrific place to be aside is on the outer floor. as a result the form of copper lined Aluminum cord The electron repulsion is likewise why wires artwork in the 1st place. An electron pushed into one end bumps the subsequent electron, bumps the subsequent all a thank you to the place you're status with a plug on your hand. epidermis result's without doubt one in all of the main the rationalization why we use stranded cord even in bigger residential wires as quickly as we are in a position to length 10 AWG American cord gage, and larger. maximum residing house wires are 12 AWG or 15 AWG (the bigger the form the smaller the cord (previous college maximum worldwide places bypass metric now, makes alot greater sence)) sturdy because of the fact they are greater fee-effective to make. i could opt to throw in which you shoulds seek for Nicoli Tesla the father of cutting-ingredient electric structures. He did diverse the early progression of what we use on the instant. Edison replaced right into a stick in the dirt. Tesla worked for Edison for in hassle-free terms some weeks. progressed what Edison suggested he could pay thousands and thousands for. Tesla produced, Edison reniged. Tesla stop and went off on his own. Tesla offered all his patents to Westinghouse. Westinghouse tried to be stable and pay up yet have been given decrease back stabbed by ability of his share holders so Tesla, between the terrific minds the worldwide has ever primary died broke. impressive interpreting. Oddly adequate Tesla like Newton stayed faraway from women because of the fact they have been to lots of a distraction to his deep strategies. It replaced into suggested he theory in 4 dimensions. He could build a devise in his strategies and enable it run, come decrease back and notice the place the susceptible factors have been and suitable them earlier they have been given out of his strategies. saved each thing in his strategies too. Rarelly wrote something down. We lost allot while he exceeded.

Answer 10

Both.