Question: what hapens when electrisity hits meatal

Ciarán O'Brien answered on 13 Nov 2014:

Metals are very interesting materials. Because of the way metal atoms and molecules arrange themselves, electrons find moving about from one atom to another very easy, and that’s why electricity flows so well through metals, because electricity is just a load of electrons moving really fast.

If electricity hits metal, a few things can happen. If the metal provides an easier way to the ground, the electricity will flow straight through it and continue on to the ground where it will earth itself and fizzle out. If it doesn’t, the electricity won’t bother flowing through it and it will find an easier way to the ground.

When electricity moves through metal, it also generates light and heat depending on how hard it’s being “pushed” through the metal. Most light bulbs take advantage of this by forcing lots of electricity through a very narrow wire, and that generates enough light to light up a room at night.

If too much electricity goes through the metal, it’ll heat up and begin to glow, then melt, and if somehow electricity is still able to flow through it, turn to gas!The wires in light bulbs are made of metals that are very resistant to heat, so they can last ages before the heat of the electricity flowing through them breaks them.