Does the position of electrons change when the current is AC?

Replies

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  Ramani Aswath

  If the electron does not move, then what is the current? There is a drift velocity of about 0.25 mm/sec for electrons in a 1mm Copper wire carrying 10 amps DC. For a 50 Hz AC this translates to about an vibration of about 50 micrometers.

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  Kaustubh Katdare

  #-Link-Snipped-# - it helps if you visualize an electric wire as a 'pipe' with marbles filled. If the marbles flow - you'll have current flowing through the wire. Keep in mind that it's the flow of electrons that determines whether a material can conduct electricity or not.

  The best way to imagine AC current is to take a cross-section of the pipe and then check if the 'charge' is actually moving through that section. 

  I hope this helps.