What happens to free electrons when a voltage is applied to a conductor?

When a voltage is applied to a conductor, free electrons, which are negatively charged particles, experience a force due to the electric field created by the voltage. This electric field exerts a directional force on the free electrons, causing them to accelerate and move through the conductor. As a result, the electrons drift toward the positive terminal, leading to a net movement of charge that we perceive as electric current.

The conductor's atomic structure allows for the free movement of these electrons. They do not remain at rest because the application of voltage disrupts their equilibrium state, inducing motion along the conductor. Thus, stating that the free electrons are impelled along the conductor accurately describes the phenomenon that occurs when voltage is applied.

This understanding is fundamental in grasping how electrical circuits function and how current flows within a conductor, reinforcing the principle that electrical energy is effectively transmitted through the movement of free electrons.