English Deutsch Français Italiano Español Português 繁體中文 Bahasa Indonesia Tiếng Việt ภาษาไทย
All categories

If a cord is plugged into a receptical (outlet) there is electricity inherent ... I know that breaking the circuit stops the flow but I also know that current doesn't run back into the outlet, so what happens to it? does it just disappear?

2007-08-29 15:41:21 · 4 answers · asked by pickle head 6 in Science & Mathematics Physics

4 answers

All matter contains electrons. When something pushes on the electrons in a conductor, they move. This motion is what we call current. When you unplug your cord, there is nothing pushing on the electrons, so they stop moving.

2007-08-29 15:52:10 · answer #1 · answered by ancient_nerd 2 · 0 0

The electrons are still there; they just stop moving. Electrical current means charge in motion, just as water current means water in motion. And, just as water wheels produce no power unless there is current, neither does an electrical appliance.

2007-08-29 22:48:04 · answer #2 · answered by Dr. R 7 · 0 0

Electricity is electrons jumping from one atom to the next. When you cut the power, they just hold still.

2007-08-29 22:49:47 · answer #3 · answered by nursesr4evr 7 · 0 0

Everybody says the electrons stop moving. Not true. They just stop traveling in a way that moves them in one direction.

2007-08-29 23:59:46 · answer #4 · answered by Ed 6 · 0 0

fedest.com, questions and answers