How would you describe the flow of electrons?

Answer 1

The flow of electrons "looks different" from application to application. If we look inside a cathode ray tube, the electrons look like water coming out a hose nozzle set on "direct stream" or the like. In a conductor, like a piece of wire, it's a whole other story. In that case, the electrons in the conductor support current flow by "moving over one" when one electron enters one end of a wire. An electron at each "atomic interval" or so in the wire moves over and an electron emerges from the other end of the wire. Note that the electrons ''already in the wire'' are the ones supporting current flow by moving over a "place" each time an electron enters. There are many electrons in a little bit of current, but there are many more in a given conductor like copper wire. An electron that goes in one end may not emerge from the other end for hours or days or weeks (or longer), depending on the variables involved.