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- PHY102 Physics II © Dr.Cem Özdoğan
- An electric current is a stream of moving charges
- Not all moving charges constitute an electric current.
- If there is to be an electric current through a given surface, there must be a net flow of charge through that surface.
- Conduction electrons pass through both directions at the rate of many billions per second, but there is no net transport of charge, thus no current through the wire.
- CONNECT A BATTERY! To cause movement of a charge, there must be a potential difference.
- There now is a net transport of charge and thus an electric current through the wire.
- An isolated copper wire containing conduction (free) electrons
- Free electrons (conduction electrons) are moving in random motion at speeds of order 106 m/s.