In a copper wire, the flow of current is made up of which of the following?
a- neutrons
b- electrons
c- ions
d- protons
b- electrons
In a copper wire, the flow of current is made up of:
b- electrons
The flow of current in a copper wire is made up of electrons. To understand why electrons are involved in the flow of current, we need to look at the basics of electric current.
Electric current is the movement of electric charge. In most cases, it refers to the flow of electrons through a conductor like a copper wire. Inside an atom, electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit around a positively charged nucleus made up of protons and neutrons.
When an external electric field is applied to a copper wire, it creates a potential difference or voltage. This voltage causes the electrons in the wire to move. The outermost electrons of copper atoms are loosely bound and can move freely through the lattice structure of the metal. When a voltage is applied, these free electrons drift in one direction, creating a flow of current.
In contrast, protons are positively charged particles present in the atomic nucleus and are not as easily movable as electrons. Ions are atoms that have gained or lost electrons, resulting in a net positive or negative charge. While ions can carry electric current in certain situations, they are not predominantly responsible for the flow of current in a copper wire.
Therefore, the correct answer is b- electrons.