How is Electric current able to flow?

Question

anonymous · Answer

No one really knows but the standard answer is that voltage is a potential equivalent to mechanical concepts such as pressure in a hose for example, or force.  Thus it is postulated that an electron in the atom is "excited" by the potential to "break free" and travel towards the positive potential.  It soon bumps into another atom and is "absorbed" whilst dislodging another to keep going etc etc.  The "first electron is "replaced by completing the circuit.

The potential is provided by many means - magnetic, chemical, mechanical etc.

anonymous · Answer

Electric current 'flows' when there is a differential (kind of like pressure) of electrons in one side which moves to another, thus trying to 'level' the charge (or 'even' out the pressure, throughout).

theeric · Answer

Both LolWolf and Roscomac gave very good answers!

unklerhaukus · Answer

Electromotive force $\mathscr {EMF}$

anonymous · Answer

I would say, for electric current you need electric charges (electrons) to move in a particular direction, so we need to put FORCE on them, 

how to put force on charges? create electric field.. how to create electric field?! have two big plates one positively charged and one negatively charged... that's the idea of a battery

anonymous · Answer

An electric current is a flow of electric charge. Electric charge flows when there is voltage present across a conductor.
In electric circuits this charge is often carried by moving electrons in a wire. It can also be carried by ions in an electrolyte, or by both ions and electrons such as in a plasma