I understand basic electricity in that electrons are flowing to energize whatever is on the line, say a light bulb, but in order for it to work you need to complete the circuit, why? What is traveling from the light bulb back to the source over the neutral wire?
In: Engineering
You’re thinking electrons are like the gas in a gas stove: Some kind of fuel that’s used up as the device operates.
Electrons aren’t like that. They’re more like the chain links on a bicycle chain. They can transfer energy into making things happen as long as they’re connected to a mechanism that forces them to move. The chain links travel from pedal to wheel and back, and cause the wheel to spin, but they aren’t used up in the process of the bicycle’s operation.
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