In a copper wire, the flow of current is made up of which of the following?
a
neutrons
b
protons
c
ions
d
electrons
d. electrons.
In a copper wire, the flow of current is made up of:
d) electrons.
The flow of current in a copper wire is made up of electrons.
To understand why electrons are responsible for the flow of current in a copper wire, let's break down the concept:
1. Current: Current is the flow of electric charge in a circuit. It is measured in units called Amperes (A).
2. Electric Charge: Electric charge is carried by particles called electrons and protons. Electrons carry negative charge, while protons carry positive charge.
3. Conductors: Materials that allow the flow of electric charge easily are known as conductors. Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity due to the arrangement and mobility of its atoms.
4. Electron Flow: In a copper wire, the outermost electrons of copper atoms are loosely bound to their respective atoms. These free or "valence" electrons are not tightly bound to any specific atom and can move freely within the crystal lattice of the copper wire.
When a voltage source, such as a battery, is connected to a copper wire, it creates a potential difference (voltage) across the wire. This potential difference causes the free electrons in the copper wire to move along the wire in a specific direction. This movement of electrons constitutes the flow of current.
Therefore, the correct answer is option d) electrons.