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The flow of charge, or current, results from an electrical potential difference applied across the ends of the wire. When such a potential is applied, electrons will move from low potential to high potential, creating a current.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoAn electric field causes current to flow in a wire.
In the simplest case, the electric field is created by attaching the ends of the wire to a battery, but any voltage source will have the same effect. Also, a changing magnetic field will create and electric field, which is the principle behind the workings of an electrical generator.
The electric field exerts forces on the charges in the wire (F=qE) which includes both the negative electrons and the positive charge of the nucleus. Normally the nucleus does not move because it is held into place by bonds with the neighboring atoms. Some of the electrons in a metal are not bonded to specific atoms and are spread out in the solid metal. (Nonmetals do not have such delocalized electronic distributions and hence are not good conductors.) The electrons that are not bonded to specific atoms are free to move and do so rapidly when an electric field is present. In a wire, the field causes electron motion and that motion is the current.
Note: The response of the electrons is extremely fast and there are a lot of technical details about what goes on inside the wire. There can be a long discussion on resistance regarding electron motion and vibrations of atoms and imperfections and impurities in the metal. This answer addresses only the basic point that charged electrons move in response to whatever is the source of voltage and electric field.
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How do deep ocean currents occur?
It is from differing temperatures of air above it that causes currents to flow in the water.
What is present when currents flow through a wire?
There must be a Electron flow in that wire. Or Energy in the form of Electric will flow in that wire. Influences that are present are Voltage, Ohms, and Amperes (amps)
Who discovered that electrical currents do not need an electrical wire to flow through?
Thomas Edison
Who discovered that electrical currents do not need electrical wire to flow through?
The first person to get killed by a lightning strike.
What causes surface ocean currents to flow in a circular pattern or earths revolution earths revolutoin or earths rotation?
Gyres
How do you show the magnetic field produced by a coil?
Magnetic fields are produced by electric currents , which can be macroscopic currents in wires and that The easiest way would be to increase the current flow. After that use thicker wire for the coil
Do warm currents flow toward the equator or away?
Do currents in the northern hemisphere flow clockwise?
Yes, in the northern hemisphere the currents flow clockwise.
What is the definition of warm currents?
currents that flow away
What causes currents I flow between the poles and the equator?
Uneven solar heating
What causes ocean currents to move in a circular flow?
There's a secret elevator shaft in China where millions of workers descend and take mine carts until they are under the ocean floor. From there they spin giant turbines that cause the ocean currents to move in a circular flow.
What causes the continuous flow of surface currents?
Surface currents in the ocean are the continuous movements of water found at the surface to just a few feet below. These currents are generated by the planet's prevailing winds-which are a direct result of the Sun's radiation and Earth's rotation.
