eli5, If electricity is moving electrons, does the generator get them back?

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So a generator is magnets and copper coil yeah? They make electricity and electricity is moving electrons. Power generators and electric stations are kilometres away. Do the copper coils get their electrons back?
Won’t the copper coil run out of electrons. How the electrons come back (if they do)?

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16 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Electron drift speed is about 1mm per second.

For every electron pushed out of the coils by the generator an electron is pulled in on the return circuit. The number of electrons in the copper coils does not change.

It is also worth noting that most large generators are AC, so the electrons are pushed and pulled 50 times a second. The drift speed of electrons in an AC circuit is essentially zero.

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