Q1) Do electrons go first and only after they reached the other side the current appears? Or does the current appear first and it is the reason electrons start to move in the first place?
Q2) Is this the case for lightning too? If so, does it mean there is the current that goes from Earth to thunderclouds?
In: Physics
The electron flow is what causes current. The only reason it’s backwards is because we labeled positive and negative when we first observed electricity, before we knew about electrons.
The movement of electrons causes current. Current is literally the rate of electrons flowing. Electrons start flowing instantly as soon as a path is made. Electron flow itself is quite slow, but the whole circuit starts flowing as soon as a path is made.
Lightning strikes are typically actually a few transmissions of electrons back and forth between the ground. Electrons tend to flow both ways.
Let me know if I need to clarify anything or if you have subsequent questions.
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