I hope someone can answer this question. In AC theory the positive and negative is constantly alternating how can the electrons make it back to the supply, wouldn?t there be a back up electrons at the farthest point from the source. Also if it?s constantly alternating wouldn?t the neutral bus have a negative charge 60 times a second? I know there is a simple answer but I can?t think of a way to put it in simple terms. Any help would be great and feel free to laugh.
electron flow
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In order for current to flow in any circuit, it must be complete. In other words, like a circle.
There's not a given point at the power source that 'creates' electrons, there's some means to induce them to flow one direction. As they do, other electrons fall in to take thier place. So the goes all down the line, until you go through the entire circuit and end up back where you started.
Think of it this way, You borrow a dollar from David, who then takes a dollar from Fred, who then gets a dollar from Steve, who in turn gets a buck from Mark, and Mark borrows a dollar from Alan, and Alan takes your extra dollar. Money has exchanged hands, but everyone still has the same amount of money (until the IRS gets wind of this! :grin
I hope this makes sense.
There's not a given point at the power source that 'creates' electrons, there's some means to induce them to flow one direction. As they do, other electrons fall in to take thier place. So the goes all down the line, until you go through the entire circuit and end up back where you started.
Think of it this way, You borrow a dollar from David, who then takes a dollar from Fred, who then gets a dollar from Steve, who in turn gets a buck from Mark, and Mark borrows a dollar from Alan, and Alan takes your extra dollar. Money has exchanged hands, but everyone still has the same amount of money (until the IRS gets wind of this! :grin
I hope this makes sense.
TOOL_5150
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cept when you give the dollar to bill... he just runs away with it - every dang time.
~Matt
~Matt
chris kennedy
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(until the IRS gets wind of this! :grin
Power factor?
Voltage drop.
gar
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081117-2116 EST
In a cathode ray tube or an electron tube like a triode or diode you actually have individual electrons that frow from the cathode to the anode. The electron accelerates dependent upon the electric field intensity, the charge of the electron, and its mass. The ease with which electrons leave the cathode depends upon its temperature, material, and the electric field intensity.
In a wire a single indvidual electron does not start at the source and flow around the wire back to the source. Current as the transfer of energy flows from atom to atom thru the conductor. This flow of energy travels at about 0.7 times the speed of light. Or in the range of 130,000 miles per second.
Also note radio waves travel at the speed of light in a pure vacuum.
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In a cathode ray tube or an electron tube like a triode or diode you actually have individual electrons that frow from the cathode to the anode. The electron accelerates dependent upon the electric field intensity, the charge of the electron, and its mass. The ease with which electrons leave the cathode depends upon its temperature, material, and the electric field intensity.
In a wire a single indvidual electron does not start at the source and flow around the wire back to the source. Current as the transfer of energy flows from atom to atom thru the conductor. This flow of energy travels at about 0.7 times the speed of light. Or in the range of 130,000 miles per second.
Also note radio waves travel at the speed of light in a pure vacuum.
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LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
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Think of a closed loop, like a racetrack, filled with cars. There is no start/finish line. The cars go round and round. Twice per cycle, the cars slow, stop, and reverse direction.
And yes, the neutral bus appears to be negative half of the time relative to one hot wire and positive to the other. Twice per cycle, they alternate their relative-to-neutral polarity.
The current doesn't suddenly snap in polarity; it's more speed up, slow down, stop, speed up the other way, slow down, stop again. Think of a washing-machine agitator.
zog
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- Charlotte, NC
Electrons dont "flow", they just move back and forth. The energy is what "flows", current "flow" is simply the transfer of energy from electron to electron. Think of it like pool balls on a table all in a line, you hit the first one it moves a little, transfers its energy to the next one, etc......
There was a long thread on this before.
There was a long thread on this before.
The electrons don't flow very far, they just vibrate back and forth. Electrons in a wire flow only about an inch per second, so when the voltage alternates at 60 times per second, they don't flow very far before starting to move in the other direction. The effect of the electron flow moves a lot faster. Think of water in a hose. If the hose is full when you turn the valve at the source end, water immediately begins to flow out the other end even though the specific water molecules going in one end don't get to the other end for a while.
See http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/phy00/phy00989.htm
See http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/phy00/phy00989.htm
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