Current is not the flow of electrons, it is the flow of charge. Yes, electrons are involved, but it is the amount of charge that is important. The electrons move relatively slowly (something like a mm per second), thus are said to drift. In some materials ions and other positively charged particles (e.g. holes) are involved in the "flow".
And if you want to get really picky, current does not flow. Think of a river. It has a current. But what is flowing? Water, of course, not current.
Yes, charge. .... just like water on a river, the electrons push one another and the pressure is felt many miles away, even though the electrons (water) move only a few inches in a given time.
Something that has always amazed me is the relationship between the diameter of wire and the voltage required to pass a certain amount of power.
For example, use a #24 thin wire as a lead from a 10kv supply. It will easily pass 20kw. (2 amps)
Now try this with a 10V, 2000 amp supply and try to pass 20KW. (2000 amps) The #24 wire will pop like a fuse. Same amount of power. We now need 0000++ cable to pass that same level of power. (Or to do that same amount of work)
High pressure or "charge" = efficient power transfer.
Anyway, anyone care to elaborate on the higher amps / large wire = higher voltage / smaller wire power relationship related to the river flow idea?
The best analogy I can think of is this:
High voltage, small wire: A long line of single file men in a narrow tunnel all pushing 100 pounds each = 100 pounds output.
Low voltage, thick wire: A long line of men 100 wide in a large tunnel all pushing 1 pound each = 100 pounds ouput.
T
