How does electricity travel so quickly?

In summary, the drift velocity of electrons and their thermal velocity may be relatively small compared to the length of wires connecting power stations and homes, but the transfer of energy through these electrons is almost instantaneous due to the speed of the wave carrying the energy, which is close to the speed of light. This results in electricity being delivered within microseconds.
  • #1
sambarbarian
68
0
HI! i only know about the basics of current and electricity , but, i wanted to ask this..

the drift velocity in electrons is approx 10^-4 and thermal velocity is 10^6 m/s , which is not very large compared to the length of wires connecting power stations and homes , but still we get electricity within seconds ... how can this be ?
 
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  • #2
The best arm waving answer I can think of is to liken the electrons to links in a chain. The energy gets from one end of the chain to the other as soon as you apply the force - the only delay being due to the speed that the links can pass on the tension from one to another (the speed of the wave / tension pulse along the chain). The links move at a few cm per second.

In the case of electrical power transfer, the wave carrying the energy moves at just a little short of the speed of light.

And you get 'the electricity', not in "seconds" but in microseconds :smile:
 

Related to How does electricity travel so quickly?

1. What is electricity at minute levels?

Electricity at minute levels refers to the flow of electric charges at a very small scale, such as at the atomic or molecular level.

2. How is electricity at minute levels measured?

Electricity at minute levels is typically measured using sensitive instruments such as a nanovoltmeter or a microammeter, which are capable of detecting and measuring very small electric currents.

3. What are some examples of electricity at minute levels?

Examples of electricity at minute levels include the flow of electrons through a wire, the movement of ions in an electrolyte, and the transfer of charges between atoms in a chemical reaction.

4. What are the potential applications of understanding electricity at minute levels?

Understanding electricity at minute levels has many potential applications, such as in the development of nanotechnology, improving energy efficiency, and creating new electronic devices.

5. How does electricity at minute levels differ from regular electricity?

Electricity at minute levels differs from regular electricity in terms of the scale at which it operates. Minute levels of electricity involve individual atoms and molecules, whereas regular electricity involves the flow of large amounts of charges through conductors.

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