What Is Electric Current?

ELECTRIC CURRENT An atom is the smallest unit of matter. It is electrically neutral. Each atom has positive charges, known as electrons. They also have electrically neutral charges, known as neutrons.

Since in an atom the total number of electrons is equal to the total number of protons, the overall electric charge of an atom is nil, so we can say that atoms are electrically neutral. The positive charges, i.e., protons are heavy, so they remain attached to the atom, whereas the negative charges, i.., electrons are very light and remain in a constant random motion around the nucleus.

Most of the objects, protons and negative charges, known as e n be wind, d even we see around us, are also electrically neutral.

You have already studied about conductors and insulators of heat and electricity. The metals such as copper, aluminium, silver are of electricity and hence electricity can flow through them. Their free electrons, which are in a state of random motion start flowing in one direction when connected to a source of electricity.
That means when we switch on the bulb or a fan, the electricity flowing through the wires is actually the flow of electrons. This flow of electrons (electric charges) through a conductor (wire) is good conductors actually particles s' in a known as electric current.