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Where do electrons travel in a conductor when it is conducting electricity - inside or on the surface?
Wiki User
∙ 16y ago
My answer to this question may seem strange-- If a teacher asked this question, the teacher or the texbook has it wrong. The correct answer depends on many things that are not asked here. An advanced and recent electromagnetic theory text might have the right answer. Generally, you can think of the electrons flowing throughout the conductor at DC and low frequencies. As the frequency increases, the flow restricts itself more and more to the surface. See the term "skin effect" for more information.
Wiki User
∙ 16y ago
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Is soil a good conductor of electricity?
That depends on your soil and your definition of "good". Dry soil is probably a very poor conductor. Wet soil can be a pretty good conductor if you have large contact surface areas and dissolved salts in the water.
How is gold used in electronics?
Gold is used as a conductor of electricity on flash drives, USB cables, etc. It plates the metal surface to let the most electricity flow. The question should be why not how. Gold is impervious to oxidation and a very good conductor. So connections are more reliable if made with gold contacts as opposed to copper which oxidizes easily.
Why don't plastics conduct electricity?
In general, plastics are composed of many chains of complex molecules. In a lot of cases, all the valence electrons of all the atoms of the material are in Fermi energy levels below the conduction band. That is, the energy required to move electrons in plastics is "high" because the energy levels that electrons would have to be in within the structure of the plastic are well above where the electrons are actually hanging out. The conduction band is a term we apply to the energy band that electrons have to be in to support current flow. Remember that current flow is like musical chairs in that everyone has to "move over one" all along the current path for current to flow. It's isn't about one electron going "into" a circuit at one end and that same electron coming out the other end. The "willingness" of electrons to "move over" to support current flow is conductivity, and electrons that are in "too low" an energy level (because they are being "kept at home" by the chemical structure of the material - the plastic) won't help with conduction. Just as a quick contrast, in a metal, there are lots of electrons in energy levels high enough to support conduction. These are the so-called "free electrons" you hear about. Plastics don't have them.
What is the difference in construction between power diode and simple diode?
Basically the semi-conductor junctions are a larger surface area and heat sinks are part of the design to dissipate heat.
Where did the electrons from cathode ray come from?
In a cathode ray tube (CRT), the particles, which are electrons, originate at the heated cathode, becoming the so-called cathode rays. The electrons stream off the cathode and rush over to the anode.
What is a electrical conduction?
An electrical conductor is a material whose molecules contain loose valence electrons that can easily be passed between molecules. When an electrical potential difference (aka voltage) is applied to the surface, the electrons drift toward or away from it (depending on the charge) - this is referred to as the conduction of electricity.
What is nonmetal?
Element that has a low melting point and a dull surface, breaks easily, is a poor conductor of heat and electricity, and tends to gain electrons in a chemical reaction....
The relative distribution of charge density on the surface of a conducting solid depends on what?
the density of the conductor
What discharges static electricity?
A static charge is just an excess (or lack) of electrons from the surface atoms of a substance, always a non-conductor. The discharge occurs when the "free" electrons find a low resistance path to ground.
What is corona effect in?
Corona is a result of the ionization of a fluid around a conductor; when referring to electrical power lines, this is the ionization of the air around the conductor. At very high voltages (200kV and greater), this can become very significant, and can cause the deteriation of the conductor, or any conducting surface near the conductor, so special care is taken to mitigate it (such as using corona rings and bundled conductors). The ionization is a result of the buildup of electrons. Corona rings and bundled conductors provide a larger surface area for the electrons to "sit on".
How does static electricity and magnesium differ?
The question is about comparing two different quantities. Static electricity is a physical phenomenon (for example, heat). It is about the accumulation of electrons or the lack of electrons on insulating surfaces. Magnesium is a metal, a material, that is a conductor and burns brightly when lit. Other than that Magnesium cannot accumulate electrons at the surface to cause static electricity, I don't see any relation.
Electricity that does not flow?
What you are referring to is called static electricity. It is defined as the accumulation of electric charge on the surface of a non-conducting (insulating) material. It is generally produced by friction or by electrostatic induction.
Where is the electric field in conducting and non-conducting sheets?
E field does not exist within the conductor, because the charge exists on the surface. This is not true for non conductors.
What does conductor mean in science?
It means that it's a material whose outer shell electrons move freely across the surface of the material. Conductors can carry an electric current
What does electrica?
Static electricity is the accumulation or build up of electricity charges on the surface of a material, usually an insulator or non-conductor of electricity.
How metals conduct eletricity?
There are free electrons on the surface of a metal and their movement on surface is the conductance of electricity.
Is a plastic bottle cap a conductor or insulator?
What is the bottle cap made of?
