How Electricity Works - for visual learners

[@EngineeringMindset]

*This free video took 2 MONTHS to make!* If you’d like to support Paul’s efforts, links below: Watch ad-free here:➡ www.patreon.com/theengineeringmindset Get your engineers mug here:➡ tinyurl.com/electrical-engineer-mug Join our electrical course waiting list:➡ forms.gle/7ToixmRap8RGfcU17

[@aleksdeepvoice]

thank u

[@robertmatt7756]

In 1966 while pursuing a BSA Radio Merit Badge at age 10, I became involved with the Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS). All that to say: I had to learn all the Electrical Formulas by rote. Any young person today interested in Electrical Engineering will be well served by your excellent presentation. Thank you for not “dumbing down” the subject in any way.

[@charlemagnesclock]

So this video, while being one of the better ones I've seen on the topic, is oh so close, but I think it still leaves a common misconception about what is happening in an electric circuit. There are several hints in the video about this, especially starting with the field discussion at 6:53 and the drift speed discussion starting at 8:10. I'm not saying it is wrong, but rather that a key idea is missing. This idea becomes clear in an electro-plating or electrolysis situation where not just electrons, but whole molecules are caused to move by the current. The drift speed and time differential in what happens was covered quite nicely by Derek in a video on his Veritasium channel. I think it would help to say that the ENERGY in an electric current is a wave function that travels along the surface of a conductor whose electrons (or molecules) are easily pulled free to move in the direction of the current. Thus, the motion of the electrons, while fitting quite nicely with all of the math and equations, can better be thought of as COMSUMERS of the energy in the current. This makes the pressure discussion in the light bulb explanation more obvious I think, and it totally accounts for the delay in their motion when a current is first setup, It's a drag function.

[@guymaninu]

Thanks for informing everyone that is the case 😊

[@ADudeNamedStacie]

I can't see electricity but I can see this is a great video!

[@EngineeringMindset]

Thank you, hope you enjoyed it

[@2207amin]

U r welcome sir 😉

[@copernicofelinis]

Nice to see a video that highlights the role of surface charge in circuit theory. For too many years it has been neglected in basic courses, to the point that ignorance of its role is a major cause of misunderstanding electrical phenomena. I envy your ability to synthesize concepts in so short a video. It's taking me multiple half an hour videos just to introduce the concepts of voltage and potential difference.

[@haventyetbegun]

Very refreshing (no pun intended) to hear someone attempt to actually explain electricity -instead of just using the "water-flowing-in-a-pipe" analogy. I'm still not desperate to understand how it works, and watching this video a few more times should help a long way!

[@Friday4]

I cant belive we receiveing high quality well done education for free Thank you

[@cesarcantoral6100]

Thanks!

[@EngineeringMindset]

Thank you very much @cesarcantoral6100

[@mohamaddeb5121]

It doesn't get better than this tbh. A must watch video for people who are interested in electricity.

[@davidegalilei]

At 8:21 the correct formula to calculate the Time to travel should be time=distance/speed, not time=speed/distance. The result is correct, but the operands are swapped. Great explanation though, thanks!

[@atharvabedarkar]

nice observation

[@EngineeringMindset]

You are correct, well spotted @davidegalilei e-mail me and I'll send you a mug.

[@HammerThumbs]

This goes totally against everything I was taught in a genX public school 😮I’m rethinking my whole life because of this video!

[@ZajoSTi]

The best 20 minutes in my recent times. So interesting and so well made.

[@Dave-ct1jk]

My entire first year fundamentals course in 15 minutes 👍 😂

[@mukuscharz13_goated]

This has been the most important information I have received..like you have been so clear

[@vitathefox9218]

Amazing video, I always love your content! We've even had some of your early chiller videos played in my HVAC classes. Always a good watch

[@EngineeringMindset]

Glad you like them!

[@GrandePunto8V]

Summary: EM fields/waves are travelling first when you flip the switch. They induce "current" in the wires, but it's only a power loss (some fraction of fields penetrates the wire - superconductor doesn't allow that). Energy is OUTSIDE the wires (very close, in the insulation).

[@oscarcollins9696]

Perfection. Absolute peak. This has cleared up SO many questions. Thank you!

[@travisk5589]

I am waiting for veritasium and electroboom to comment

[@Trooper_Ish]

From the start, with flow from Negative,.. I'm like...Sweet!, this one is a good one!

[@michelleleadley8938]

Excellent explanation and presentation are understatements. You are an exceptional educator. Thank you.

[@vladimirdvorak3937]

Exceptionally great video, I wanted to see for a long time! I have only one thought or question. When the switch connects wires the video says (15:50) the electric field is created. But I don't think it is.. electric field has to be there already since there are electrically charged particles in the space. Of course when the electrons can travel in the direction of the existing field they recombine and move.. the existing electric field changes but it just feels confusing to say that the field is created at the time of connection.

[@EvoFireGaming]

Warning:this is peak

[@Stealthsilent1337]

Wow, this is real education.

[@paulo1940]

Very elaborate and succinct video with phenomenal animations to support it. I might have fallen short of understanding the idea behind how surface charge plays a crucial rule, it is my first time learning about their relevance in circuit theory. Also, I am quite perplexed by the reasoning behind why if 10V of charge which the battery provides are "consumed" by the lamp, that there is somehow a pushing force from the lamp's negative terminal to the battery's positive terminal that maintains the same magnitude of current. I might have had same attention lapses though, so correct me if my questions are based on wrong interpretations of the content. Otherwise, it was very seemless to understand the interplay between the battery, wires, resistive elements and most of how the electric field is the true factor to why the effects of electricity are lightning fast.

[@hackerman9025]

this is perfect thank you

[@EngineeringMindset]

You're welcome, hope you enjoyed

[@MySquishable]

The graphic at 7:46 is wrong. You said electrons move opposite the arrow of the electric field, then when you draw the wire you have the electrons going in the same direction as the electric field lines. However everything else in the video is great! Thanks!

[@EngineeringMindset]

Can you please clarify, I checked the graphics at 7:40 - 7:46 The electric field points from the positive to the negative, through the wire. Then at 7:46 - 8:00 the electrons drift through the wire from negative to positive, in the opposite direction to the arrows. I can't see the mistake you are referring to?

[@BR.]

The last 3 minutes were hard. Thank you!

[@xqqqme]

I agree. Actually, as is usually the case with this stuff -- no matter who explains it or how it's explained -- my eyes had started to glaze over by halfway through.

[@iCantThinkOfaName3]

My way of visualizing it is like, a cross country loop, the volts are how many people are running, and the amps are how fast they are running, when you short circuit it, it is like a head on collision between like *volts* people at like *amps* mph

[@ManurKini]

Even after keeping notification to all still your vedios re not know until you put a post notification. Great content!! 🎉

[@sunilnale]

18 December 2024. Thanks, i always need some analogy and it's simplified visual version to understand topics like Current. Will you create another video on How AC current flows?

[@EngineeringMindset]

Glad you enjoyed it. Have you seen our three phase video? It discusses AC current at the start but it does go much deeper so you probably dont need to watch the entire thing kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWrKnpKEgZx-r6csi=6EP5C6RzcYSwIajm

[@sunilnale]

@EngineeringMindset thanks for replying. My teachers always thaught me that AC current changes direction, for analogy imagine a person moving 10 meters forward and 10 meters backwards. But if AC current flows like this it will never reach Home from Source, but this video cleared my concept. Battery doesn't have electrons which it puts into empty wires rather just cause flow of electrons alreday present in wires, thus it's easy to understand AC current. Also can you make animated videos on Meter brigde and Potentiometer? Actually there in entrance exam named NEET and JEE in India and we have these devices, it will be helpful if you make short 5 to 10 minutes aminated videos on explaining these...

[@EngineeringMindset]

We already have a very detailed video on potentiometer, please see our other videos

[@atomicdmt8763]

amazing! Veritasium has a very good video on electrical (flow) also - visual

[@yannickjantje4098]

The return of the king

[@Rudraksh32m]

Thank you for this video!

[@Takshkashyap]

I love yours videos 😍

[@EngineeringMindset]

Thank you, glad to hear

[@Mctsep]

Great video!!!

[@stevosteve]

Theory: OHMS LAW is brilliant. Practically: If a circuit (i.e. continuity) is broken then no electricity flows. Reason: The source voltage supply (i.e. potential difference) must reach each side the target load (i.e. a resistive item such as a lamp, or motor or heater etc etc). If the circuit (i.e. continuity) is broken, then you will always find the source voltage across the position of the break. You can prove this using the simple circuit in this video . . . ***Measure the source voltage ***Close the switch contact ***Then you will find the same source voltage across the load (bulb, motor etc etc) ***NOW open the switch contact (i.e. introduce a 'fault, because that is all an open switch contact does) ***Now measure across the open circuit switch contacts and you will find the source voltage. ***If you measure across the load you will find zero voltage, that is why the lamp or motor etc is not working when the switch is open. Same thing if it is a fault in the circuit . . . . the voltage missing across the load, can instead be found across the point of the fault. This simple theory really helps to trace electrical circuit faults in a practical manner.

[@brunodinis7454]

thank you, captain obvious

[@Coldkill3]

phenomenal video

[@celticstephenhill]

My brain made it over 6:30! 😂

[@ElectricRob]

Great explanation and animations!

[@b04all]

Mulțumim!

[@EngineeringMindset]

Thank you!

[@peanutbutterjellyjam2179]

We follow along as we are taught, but I'm sure that the principles of electricity will change in the future as we learn more.

[@logictv6667]

Nice video

[@orionpax444]

Nice video. Well done and explained I'm very understandable ways. I would love to see a video describing the third theory Hole theory.

[@EngineeringMindset]

Thank you, so I'm pretty sure we covered hole theory in the solar panel video kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6nXaGWXec95nbs but basically, when an electron moves, it leaves a space for another electron and this hole can also be thought of as moving.

[@orionpax444]

@EngineeringMindset Very cool and I'm gonna give it a watch. Correct me if I'm wrong but those spaces or holes move positive to negative correct?

[@EngineeringMindset]

Exactly right. You can see that here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6nXaGWXec95nbssi=z7TlpnYwcb-NWnMj&t=1141 You can also see it in this video on mosfets kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6i1e6awmsRso5Ysi=XCXbVQ6dB03Ao0um&t=599 So the hole goes from positive to negative and the electron goes from negative to positive.

[@RogerRumbu]

Very informative

[@sheraz1001]

Electrons do not flow in the wire analogous to water flowing in a pipe. The drift velocity of electrons in a copper wire is typically around 7.59 × 10−5 m/s, which would make this scenario impossible. Also, if we are talking about AC current then electrons usually vibrate about a mean position. When voltage is applied then EM waves are generated and they do all the work.

[@EngineeringMindset]

Thanks for your feedback. The drift speed is discussed in the video and the time taken to move through the circuit. The video doesn't go into AC, but the EM waves are discussed.

[@iVoteForJesus]

Oh boy here we go 💕💕

[@travisderthick9361]

Copper wire definitely has a resistance per length!

[@Cutewoof-banana]

This guy is great🎉🎉

[@alexanderpushkin9160]

Thank you.

[@Tejassagar_2008A]

17:14 Which book is this

[@themusesquad8554]

About time :)

[@mo7aZa]

vielen dank. sehr hilfreich.

[@bradphillips7074]

Thanks!

[@EngineeringMindset]

Thank you

[@omerkaya545]

Thank you!

[@ThePlowGuys]

doesn't the electrons in the battery cause the electrons in the wire to vibrate (Frequency) at the same rate as they are? causing an instant effect through the wire. The electrons in the filament also vibrates heating the filament up causing it to glow. I have watched many videos on this subject. It appears that we still have unanswered questions about electricity. Physics really interests me. To bad the math just seems way to complicated.

[@Dude29]

Incredible

[@omerkaya545]

9:40 For the love of god, please explain us, in this fasion, how having 2 or more batteries in series increases the voltage. I drew all of this out on paper and it makes no sense to me still. According to this, I should still expect the same voltage!

[@copernicofelinis]

When you put the negative electrode of the top battery in contact with the positive electrode of the bottom battery, the excess electrons and the lack of electrons neutralize each other. Both batteries are forced to produce a new charge separation that will result in double the positive charge on top and double the negative charge at the bottom. Each battery still produce the same charge separation.

[@onradioactivewaves]

To add to the reply above, it may help to consider a reference point such as ground. Sometimes ground is connected to earth (earth ground) amd other times it's just a common reference. The point between the 2 batteries could be considered your ground (or 0 volts) reference point, the the voltage on the negative side of the fkrst battery would be negative voltage. We just typically put the negative side of the supply voltage as the ground reference point as a matter of convention, and each battery connected in series adds that batteries voltage. This also happens inside batteries with more than one cell in series, e.g. a 9V battery has 6 x 1.5 voltage cells in series inside of it.

[@olhoTron]

Imagine the first battery is a guy pushing a car... Now imagine another guy (the second battery) begins pushing the first guy... The car is now being pushed with double the pressure... Not a very good analogy, but I think its just like that... one battery is pushing the other, double the "pressure" (voltage)

[@peterhguk]

Terrific 😊

[@محمدضیاءالق]

I love you all vedios

[@davidsawyer7880]

No doubt electricity moves amazingly fast. Why does it take for ever for things to boot up?

[@敗北王測試用頻道はいぼく]

9:32這是鹼性電池的剖面圖 碳鋅電池不是這種原理

[@TheHaykokalipsis]

Can you make a visual representation of voltage? I know some electricity and repair motherboards with knowing the practice side of electricity, but there is something in theory i can not get my head around for a long time. I watched all videos on youtube (no joking), read some articles even though my english sucks, asked chatgpt multiple times and with multiple methods with no plausible results. The question is. Lets say we have a circuit with 5volt and 1 ampere, and a second circuit with 10volt and 1 ampere. If the speed of electrons is the same (same 1 coulombs of electrons passing through every 1 second), then whats the thing that 10volt power source does to those 1 coulomb of electrons that 5volt power source does less so in the end we have 10watt of power instead of 5watt? It can not be the kinetic energy, right? Cause the speed of individual electrons is the same in both 10volt power supply circuit and on 5volt one (again, one coulomb of charge in 1 second, and the mass of electron does not change if im not wrong)? What's that magical multiplier that gives every single individual electron double the potential? Can i be explained in real life example? Yeah, im not on the smart side of the scope and im missing something trivial, but please still thumbs up this so author can answer or even better, make a video.

[@EngineeringMindset]

So if you watch the section of the video about the battery (9:30) it should give you an idea. But if the voltage increases then the electric field which forces the electrons to move will also increase (Electric field = voltage applied / length of wire. ) At 8:20 you can see the calculation for drift speed, which is for a 1mm diameter copper wire with 1A of current giving a drift speed of 0.0935mm/s but If the current increased to 2A then the drift speed would increase to ~ 0.187mm/s so this does charge depending on the current, wire size and material.

[@tommason8104]

While this is an excellent presentation don’t forget to invoke the scientific method which is to question what your observing to the point that you know it’s correct . As some have pointed out that they were taught something different regarding electrical theory but accepted it. The scientific method was not invoked then. While as an electrical engineer I can concur with this explanation, that doesn’t mean you should until you yourself can prove it correct. The speed of science is driven by those that continue to question what we think we know not by those that simply learn and accept it.

[@bt9604]

As you measured 0.45A, on line What'll be on neutral line

[@EngineeringMindset]

It's a series circuit so the current will be 0.45A at any point in the circuit.

[@olivercarrara]

Awesome!

[@ericbenson1610]

Please I am interested in the Mugs, I want 4 sent, but how do go about paying and collecting them? I live in Denmark.

[@EngineeringMindset]

Hey, you can order the mugs via our store (engineeringmindset.store/) and they will be shipped directly to you.

[@lbers238]

Why would the magnetic field outside the wire go clockwise rather than counterclockwise. That doesn't make any sense to me. I would expect there to be no field since there is no reason for either direction.

[@start7047]

Thank you!

[@kbbbvanderson]

The arrows going in the 'wrong' direction down the wire are really confusing...

[@bofty]

Why do car batteries connect things to the positive, and the negative is grounded?

[@EngineeringMindset]

To reduce and simplify wiring, it's designed using conventional current as shown in the video. But practically also consider the electric field is reaching from the positive side to the negative side (see 15:21) so it's better to have the positive side in wires as it's harder for something to accidently complete the circuit and short the battery. If the car frame was positive, the entire frame would create an electric field that's reaching out to anything respectively negatively charged so it would be very easy to accidentally complete the circuit and drain the battery.

[@vatansalvery]

I still cannot find anyone who can explain how electrons phisically move in a copper wire. What makes them move from one end to another? Not theoratically, I mean phisically? Nobody knows it.

[@PPhase]

Why does the voltage reduce along the length of the wire at the negative end if the electricity is flowing from that side of the battery?

[@LexusGX460-OFF-ROAD]

conventional current flow

[@EngineeringMindset]

So the wire will have some resistance, regardless of where in the circuit it is connected. The current has to pass through the entire loop to complete the circuit. The electric field will need to establish around and through the wire to build the surface charge that moves the electrons, so we will have some voltage drop at every point.

[@RahulChowdhury-y8r]

Nice video. Everything is well explained 😊😊

[@aaax9410]

None of that weird Veritasium shit here , good job 👍

[@Lue30499]

TBF though, it is. At 16:03. (Assuming I know what you mean by "veritasium shit") Veritasium was talking about that wave shown at 16:03 and how it can "influence" current on a wire 1m away, which is shown here.

[@theastuteangler]

beautiful

[@KennethSquires-vj9tz]

The 1.5 is it a cell or battery (0.37) /(2.40/18.35

[@EngineeringMindset]

Technically it is a cell. But, my guess is that 99.9% of people go to the shop and ask for a replacement battery, not a cell. Even the manufacturer calls it a battery, so I also call it a battery.

[@Ibogaman]

Fun fact First observation of electricity came from ancient Greece, the whole name basically means the ability that amber has. But no, god forbids we study history.

[@davesradiorepairs6344]

Electrons = Angry Pixies..

[@AK-vx4dy]

This analogy with magnets in tube is brilliant and perfect.

[@GrandePunto8V]

Analogy is for children.

[@AK-vx4dy]

@GrandePunto8V Then I'm very old child 😉

[@haventyetbegun]

​@@GrandePunto8Vas is commenting that something is for children 😊

[@luminousfractal420]

noooooo ..you have to show the handoff between the electrons charges. it wont make sense without it, people have too many ideas in their heads about how that might work. for visual learners that bit is helpful

[@PPhase]

Some negative cables in my car just go to bare metal ... how does this create a circuit and still work especially if electricity travels from the negative?

[@LexusGX460-OFF-ROAD]

main battery is connected to bare metal... so anything connected to bare metal is the same as being connected to battery negative... this is called "ground"

[@EngineeringMindset]

The car frame acts as part of the circuit, you can see these in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJ-zg4trr7aKgtksi=WmWqzO8IPSg2ZaNX&t=888

[@محمدضیاءالق]

I love you

[@All_in_one5678]

❤

[@RampcY314]

Electric fields move the energy*

[@محمدضیاءالق]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@PavKar308]

While I think that I understand, I also understand that I probably don't Understand, do you understand? :)

[@vatansalvery]

Also, how light is moving phisically? Don’t tell me about the known bullshit such as fotons, spectrum, wave length, etc. I mean what carries the light in space phisically? Nobody knows

[@chrisjacobs6027]

Okay then do me a favour. Touch a negative then touch a positive and see which one zaps the hell out of you

[@EngineeringMindset]

If it's a DC circuit, the voltage is usually very low so touching the terminals of a battery doesn't matter as your skins resistance is so high. But with AC, you are at the same potential as the neutral wire, which is tied to ground, so you shouldn't get a shock from it because there is no voltage difference so no current would flow. But, the live/hot wire is at a much higher potential, it takes reference to ground. So if you touch this there will be a voltage difference, a difference in potential, so current can flow through you. However, if you are properly insulated, then you can touch the live/hot wire without a shock. That's why birds can land on power lines of thousands of volts and be completely fine, but if they touch a power line and touch, or get too close to, the pylon (which is grounded) they will be blown to pieces.

[@NevadaMostWanted658]

If circuits doesn't reduce current (in series) wouldn't that make resistors practically useless?

[@twotrees510]

Adding more resistors in a series circuit DOES reduce current in the circuit. What it DOES NOT do is create different currents in different parts of the series circuit. The current is the same as it's coming out of the battery as it is going in.

[@NevadaMostWanted658]

​@@twotrees510 Thanks! this question has been baffling me for a while.

[@EngineeringMindset]

Looks like your question was answered but we do have a course on how resistors work kzbin.info/www/bejne/eorGfXl-nLt2pJI and also series circuits kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIeZpY1pdtaZq8U which should help you

[@NevadaMostWanted658]

@EngineeringMindset i get it now

[@poyenwu]

Veritasium has a video explaining how electricity does NOT work like this, but instead works in a completely different way than how we think it does. "How electricity actually works"

[@EngineeringMindset]

Thanks for your feedback but in this video I explain the same concept as Veritasium's great video on the topic. I start from the very basics and gradually fade into the propagation of electric and magnetic fields, what causes them and how they create a surface charge which moves the electrons within the wire and also show how far and fast they are moving. I would encourage you to watch this video in full when you have time.

[@GrapeParfait]

no this isnt how electricity works

[@EngineeringMindset]

I'm curious why you think that, did you watch the full video where the surface charges, electric and magnetic field is explained? The start is very basic regarding the common analogy to water.

[@eastcoastwilly1373]

So how did they see those electrons again to formulate the math formulas ? It's a metering system to charge money for something not understood. Hence the name, Electrical Theory.

[@juicedgoose]

Rewatch the part from 1:26, that should explain it

[@eastcoastwilly1373]

Again, nobody has ever seen an electron....it is a hypothesis. Just because a mathematical equasion exists does not make it relevant.

[@newmonengineering]

If you have not noticed yet, we build math to fit findings all the time. Our electrical math is good enough to build computer chips and not burn up or fry. It may lack a little in the magnetic field of coils, but we get close. All of the math we use for electrons has been accurate enough with a few notable changes in history to allow trillions of transistors in a CPU to function at ghz speed. As well as the RAM, and Power Supplies. So maybe it's not 10p% perfect in all areas, but its close enough for us to build miniature computers with screens that communicate wireless aka Cell Phone. So the math I would say is good enough for the task as far as I have seen so far.

[@Kenkyou_Nogata]

​@newmonengineering I believe OP means in terms of charging £,$,€,R,¥ per watt. There could be inflation in terms of company charges. As we get more educated, knowledgeable, effective and efficient in producing energy. Costs should either stay or drop reletive to improvement. Not increase as high as they do now.

[@EulianDax]

Hur durrr.

[@sjshdhehbesjks]

electricity father of only fans

[@Phil-D83]

Stupid energy prices in Europe have never made sense to me. It is intentional, and only harms people

[@johnroberts3824]

Veritasium's channel explains that visual learning is a myth.

[@ignacioenriquemendezchavez5912]

I think both are great teachers, but I don’t care if it’s myth or not. The truth is that in this video I learn a lot more than in a year of electricity in my bachelors. I love this channel and had help me a lot in school (industrial engineering undergrad) and in the field.(I work in maintenance for heavy machinery).

[@haventyetbegun]

Veritasium is hardly a channel about science. Look at his video about "The military's dumbest idea" or IQ tests. Anyway, I don't think the concept of visual learners has any meaning but having it in the titke of the video conveys the intended message.

[@olhoTron]

Actually building circuits > animations > formulas with little to no explanation

[@oscarcollins9696]

I don't care what Derek says this time round. This is the first video that has actually allowed me to understand this stuff in detail.

[@Paradox2614]

Electrons dont move, they vibrate. 😂

[@EngineeringMindset]

In AC they vibrate, but DC they drift around the circuit. I've covered this in the video with the math behind it, hope you enjoy it 🙂

[@eagleMMMm]

Very expensive bill 💸💸💸

[@cesarcantoral6100]

Thanks!

[@EngineeringMindset]

Thank you! again.

[@cesarcantoral6100]

Thanks!

[@EngineeringMindset]

Thank you!