current

It sounds like you may be confusing orbitals and orbits. In a typical metal, there is a "sea" of almost free electrons so that only a small Voltage is needed to move them. But, even then, it is best not to think of current as being something like water flowing through a pipe.

Here are some links that may be helpful

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/ohmmic.html

http://www.qudev.ethz.ch/phys4/PHYS4_lecture16v1_2page.pdf

Rated you a GA. You just about went clear over my head with the electron drift. I will add that electrons do flow to a certain extent. Usually only to topmost shell of electrons. The actual movement of individual electrons is relatively slow, but the propogation of their effect is very rapid.

That's a good point about the slowness of individual electrons vs fast propagation. I have trouble explaining that; do you know any kind of analogy that would help a beginner like the OP?

Thanks.

I think the flow of electrons can be illustrated as follows.

ie, a pipe(conductor) filled with balls(electrons). When we try to insert a new ball from the one end of the pipe, we can receive an expelled ball from other side.

This means the electron flow isn't same as water flow.

Jobinjosin