Flow of Current in Metal

Flow Of Current In A Metal

Metals show a very different kind of bonding called metallic bonding. According to this bonding, the outermost electrons are not bound to any particular atom, and move freely inside the metal randomly as shown in fig. So, these electrons are free electrons. These free electrons move freely in all  the directions. Different electrons move in different directions  and with different speeds. So there is no net movement of the electrons in any particular direction. As a result, there is no net flow of current in any particular direction.

Flow of electrons inside a metal wire
Flow of electrons inside a metal wire When no potential is applied across its ends

Flow of electrons inside a metal wire