To gain an insight into how electricity flows through a material, we need to understand the structure of "Atoms" (nature's building blocks). All matter is made up of Atoms, whether the matter is Carbon, Hydrogen, Gold, Silver or any other material. Each Atom is comprised of Protons, which are positively-charged; Neutrons, which have no charge; and Electrons, which are negatively-charged. The Protons and Neutrons form the "nucleus" of the Atom, and the Electrons travel in "orbits" around the "nucleus" much like the earth travels around the sun. Protons and Electrons follow specific Laws of Attraction. Since they have opposite charges, they "attract" one another similar to the north and south (opposite) poles of magnets. If an Atom has the same number of Protons as Electrons, then the Atom is balanced and stable. The orbiting Electrons remain in orbits around their protons and neutrons in the nucleus as long as nothing upsets the balance.

	Free Electrons Can Move

All matter is made up of carbon, hydrogen, and other atoms. Each atom is comprised of protons, which are positively charged; neutrons, which have no charge; and electrons, which are negatively charged. The protons form the nucleus of the atom and the electrons travel in orbits around the nucleus much like the earth travels around the sun.

Protons and electrons follow specific laws of attraction. Since they have opposite charges, they attract to one another. If an atom has the same number of protons as electrons, then the atom is balanced, and stable. The orbiting electrons remain in their orbits as long as nothing upsets the balance.

When something upsets this balance, some of the Electrons become "knocked out of their orbits". They are now called "Free Electrons” and these free electrons can readily move to another nucleus. As defined earlier, when these electrons move from atom to atom, we call this “electricity”. The free electron condition can be caused by many different things including rubbing cat's fur on Amber (static), passing a Wire through a Magnetic Field (generator), or using two very specific chemicals together (Dry Cell Battery).

The free electrons are attracted to atoms where there is an electron missing and will fill the space just vacated by the first free electron. When this conditions occurs continuously, the movement of electrons becomes the basis for the flow of electrical energy we call "current".