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There is no single speed of electricity: an electrical signal travels through a conductor much faster than the charge carriers drift. OpenStax gives typical textbook scales of about 108 meters per second for signal propagation and about 10−4 meters per second for charge-carrier drift. These are general orders of magnitude, not measurements for every wire.
What does “speed of electricity” mean?
The phrase can refer to two different motions in a conductor: how quickly an electrical change propagates along it, or how quickly its charge carriers move on average. OpenStax distinguishes these quantities in its model of conduction in metals.
| Meaning | What is moving | Typical scale | What the figure represents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signal propagation | A change in the electric field that carries an electrical signal | About 108 m/s | OpenStax’s typical textbook order of magnitude for electrical signals in conductors, not a specification for a particular wire. |
| Charge-carrier drift | The charge carriers’ average motion through the conductor | About 10−4 m/s | OpenStax’s typical textbook order of magnitude for drift, not the speed of the signal. |
How can electricity seem fast if electrons move slowly?
The fast signal is not one electron racing from a switch to an appliance. When an electric field changes, that change propagates through the conductor; the charge carriers themselves have a much slower average drift. This distinction explains why the effect of switching on a circuit can travel quickly even though individual carriers drift slowly.
In this context, the propagating change is described as a signal or wave. Christopher S. Baird calls the speed of electromagnetic effects down a wire the “signal velocity,” “wave velocity,” or “group velocity” in his explanation of the speed of electricity.
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Is the speed of electricity the speed of light?
Light propagates at the speed of light in free space; OpenStax discusses that propagation in its section on plane electromagnetic waves. But a signal traveling along a conductor is not automatically moving at that vacuum speed. The typical conductor signal scale cited by OpenStax is a significant fraction of the speed of light, and the actual propagation value depends on the medium and setup.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What speed should you use for a particular wire?
Use the relevant cable’s propagation specification if you need a precise value. The general textbook scale of about 108 m/s is useful for understanding the phenomenon, but it does not establish the speed for a particular cable. A specific value requires the medium and propagation setup to be identified.
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