How Electric Current Works: A Beginner's Guide

We all know that electric current (free electrons) flows in closed electrical circuits, from lower to higher potential energy. In 9V battery, the positive and negative terminals are named that way because electron flow from the negative terminal to the positive terminal.

Normally Free Electron are negatively charged particles, so they are attracted to positive charges. However, direction of electron flow can be influenced by external factors such as electric field.

Do you believe, that atom's subatomic particles in atom can operate your operate your air conditioner, fridge, or any other electrical and electronic devices in your home? 

In this blog, I'll go into more detail about the topic.

Flow of Electricity through a Wire

Electric circuit creates the path for the flow of electricity, which is what we call electricity. Electricity is the combination of electric current (A) and EMF electromotive force (V).

Define electricity flow?

The flow of electricity is nothing but the free movement of electrons and the EMF (electromotive force) is the force required for the movement of electrons.

What are electric current and electromotive force?

The free movement of electrons in an electrical circuit is considered an electric current, and the force helpful for the movement of electrons is called electromotive force (EMF).

EMF offers force to drive electrons in a circuit.

Does electricity flow in all materials?

No, electricity never flows in all materials. The flow of electrons depends upon the conductivity of the material. 

In Electrical engineering, materials are classified into three, which are described below.

Conductor

Electrical conductors are materials that contain a more number of free electrons. The conductor is the material that has the highest conductive property with the least resistivity. Electricity flows in a conductor without any restriction.

The conducting materials are copper, aluminum, silver, steel, iron, etc.

Insulator

The insulators are materials that contain no free electrons. The insulator is the material that has the highest resistivity. Electricity never flows in insulator material.

The insulating materials are plastic, paper, glass, etc.

Semi-conductor

Semi-conductors are the material that behaves as either insulators or conductors. If you are confused with that statement then I like to explain with one simple sentence, "Electricity flow in semi-conductor is depend on environment condition."

For example, Germanium and silicon materials act as conductors at normal room temperature, but the material acts as a conductor whenever the room temperature exceeds a certain point.