What is electricity?

Electricity is best defined as the flow of electrons. Electrons are subatomic particles that carry a negative charge and are fundamental to the flow of electrical current in conductive materials, such as metals. When electrons move through a conductor, they create an electric current, which can be utilized to power devices and systems.

Understanding the nature of electricity involves recognizing the role of electrons in the atomic structure of materials. In conductive materials, such as copper, there are many free electrons that can move easily under the influence of an electric field. This movement constitutes the flow of electricity.

Other particles, like protons and neutrons, do not contribute to the flow of electricity in the way electrons do. Protons, which are positively charged, reside in the nucleus of an atom and do not move freely within a conductor. Neutrons are neutral particles also found in the nucleus and play no role in the conduction of electricity. Ions, while they can carry charge in solutions or gases (such as in electrolytes), are not the primary carriers of electricity in solid conductors, where electron movement is the dominant form. Thus, the defining aspect of electricity as the flow of electrons is critical to understanding both basic electrical theory and practical applications in electrical work.