this post was submitted on 04 Jun 2026
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and electrons in a DC wire don't travel, but push?
and in AC they go both ways?
I dunno electro physics was never my strong suit..
I think they do move, but it's slower than you might think. The voltage / EMF / potential travels super fast on the same order of magnitude as the speed of light, but the net motion of the electrons in a DC current flow slower than WE can move.
No, it's weirder than that.
When you make a difference in potential, it creates an electric field within the metal, electrons in the conductor tend to drift to the more positive side through the path that offers less resistance, thus creating an electrical current.
It's all about the fields, all the real work happens outside the wire, the electrons are just going for a ride. (not to imply it would work without them)