Why does Electricity need a closed circuit?

[QueenZ]

[FONT=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif]Why does Electricity need a closed circuit for the current to flow? Especially in AC where electrons are just pushed back and forth... Wouldn't there be current generated in a wire that's moved through a magnetic field?[/FONT]

[FONT=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif]Why cant there be current until the break of the circuit? you know electrons going back and forth...[/FONT]

[FONT=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif]How does it all work? Thanks![/FONT]

 

[Knobhead]

It doesn’t. Have a look for the Marconi Radiograph.

 

[derek preece]

HowStuffWorks "How Electricity Works"

This might help to explain some of the principles.

 

[QueenZ]

it still doesn't explain why we need a closed circuit in alternating current....

 

[derek preece]

Moving electrons have energy, they need a potential difference to flow, this is often created using a generator which is connected to the circuit, as long as the electrons are moving then they will transfer their energy to a 'load'. At least that is my understanding of it anyway

 

[Silly Sausage]

it still doesn't explain why we need a closed circuit in alternating current....

Have a read through this recent thread...
http://www.electriciansforums.net/e...l-forum/53888-ac-current-flow.html#post490626

(might save Tony from a nervous breakdown )

 

[QueenZ]

Thank you Archy, that user asked exactly what I'm asking here.... I'll read through it and if I still don't understand it, I'll reply weather here or there. Thanks!

 

[mark ju]

Forget all of that. Its very simple. The conductor, whatever is used or whatever size is filled with electricity at the factory. The bigger the CSA the more you can squeeze in.
After that its just simple magic,
Easy!

 

[Knobhead]

(might save Tony from a nervous breakdown )

My nerves are fine, I’ve just had my eleven tablets with my supper. Just another five to take at bedtime.

 

[Adam W]

It has to 'go' somewhere' for it to be 'flowing'.
Think about how a waterwheel works - the water has to go somewhere for the wheel to be able to turn. That's a bit of a simplistic way of explaining it because it doesn't explain how to the water gets back to where it started, but if the water was just sitting in a reservoir it wouldn't be going anywhere.
With electricity this phenomena is explained using Kirchoff's law

 

[Silly Sausage]

My nerves are fine, I’ve just had my eleven tablets with my supper. Just another five to take at bedtime.

11, do you mean, supper with your tablets? :-(

Queenz, this seems to be quite a good site for electrical stuff...
Volume II - AC : All About Circuits

 

[Knobhead]

Adam, using your analogy of the waterwheel.
Explain the M. C. Eschler waterwheel.
View attachment 11884
Sorry, but it is an optical illusion.
I’ve got a friend in India that has a colour animated version. I’ll drop him a line and see if he’ll send it to me again. I’ve lost it yet again in my wonderful filing system.

 

[Silly Sausage]

I have a dream of modelling that on 3D AutoCAD!