AC current is the back and forth movement of electrons in a wire. If something uses some of the power, does that mean that there are more electrons moving in one direction and less in the other because some of the electrons are used up powering the thing?

Question

AC current is the back and forth movement of electrons in a wire. If something uses some of the power, does that mean that there are more electrons moving in one direction and less in the other because some of the electrons are used up powering the thing?

In: Physics

Answer 1

Everybody using water for some reason.

Look. You got a stick taped to… A lizard. When you push the lizard-stick, the stick doesn’t get used up. When you pull on the lizard-stick, the stick doesn’t get used up. The lizard just moves around according to how you move the stick. You want the lizard to move more, move the stick more.

Same thing with electrons. You’re pushing and pulling, but they don’t get used up. They’re the stick.

Source: I am a disgruntled electrical engineer.