Wire is used through out our daily lives in our modern world. In fact without it, you would not be able to read this article or even turn on the light above your head. The process of power being transferred through a wire can be a bit misleading. In fact power never enters into a wire but travels on the surface of all conductors or wires.
The Wire as Conductor
Copper wires are the most cost efficient way to conduct electrical power. The material is easy to construct into a wire and has a property that is conducive to the transfer of power. Copper has a property that allows for many electrons to be a part of its chemical makeup. These free electrons are what actually carry the electrical charge along the outside surface of the wire. At the speed of light, the electrons travel to carry electricity from one point to another. From the generating station to your home computer.
More Wires Carry more Electrons
You may have noticed that some larger wires are made up of smaller strands of single wires and braided together to make a larger power conductor. That is because since electricity can only travel on the surface of individual wires, these larger conductors can allow greater passage to the electrons. The more strands of wire, the more electricity it can carry from each point.
Insulation of the Wire
The rubber or plastic insulation of a wire protects not only the electrons but people or living things from being shocked. You may have recognized that overhead power wires are not insulated. The reason is the cost of insulating these wires would be very expensive. Since these overhead wires are not insulated and exposed to the open air they can carry a large amount of electricity or electrons over the surface of the stranded wire. In our homes for instance where we can come in contact with the wires, they must be insulated so we can use the electricity for our devices and not be harmed by the electricity.
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