Why is copper used instead of silver for electrical wires?

Surpassed only by silver, copper is a highly conductive metal. This means electricity can pass through it with greater ease, making it ideal for use in electrical wires. Unless they use silver, though, the high conductivity properties of copper allow for a greater distance of electrical current travel.

Does electricity flow easily through copper?

Copper is a very good electrical conductor.

Is electrical wire pure copper?

Not only is it pure copper, it is >99.95\% pure copper. The electrical conductivity is dependent on the purity of the metal, and even a small amount of contamination by other metals noticeably degrades the conductivity.

What happens when electricity hits copper?

The copper wire soon vaporizes because of the high temperature of electric current that travels up from the ground to the cloud. That process creates a “conducting channel” for lightning. Although this is triggered lightning, it is identical to natural lightning, Dwyer says.

When electric current flows through a copper wire what happens?

When current flows through a conductor such as a copper wire, all of those electrons that were previously moving about randomly get together and start moving in the same direction. A very interesting effect then happens: The electrons transfer their electromagnetic force through the wire almost instantaneously.

Why does copper have the highest thermal and electrical conductivity?

Copper has high thermal conductivity since copper is a lattice of positive copper ions with free electrons moving between them, these free electrons help in conduction of electricity.

Why is copper used instead of graphite?

Copper is a better conductor than graphite for electricity due to its lattice structure with free electrons that can transmit energy across the structure, whilst graphite is still able to conduct electricity, it is not as strong a conductor as copper.