* Drift Velocity: The average speed at which electrons move through a conductor due to an electric field is called the drift velocity. This is the "net speed" you're asking about.
* Typical Drift Velocity: In a typical copper wire carrying a moderate current, the drift velocity of electrons is on the order of millimeters per second. That's incredibly slow!
* Why does electricity seem fast? While the electrons themselves move slowly, the *electric field* that drives them propagates at a speed close to the speed of light. This field essentially "pushes" the electrons along the wire, causing a rapid transfer of energy.
Think of it like this: Imagine a long pipe filled with marbles. If you push one marble in one end, a marble will come out the other end almost instantly, even though the individual marbles move relatively slowly through the pipe. The electric field is like the push that transmits energy quickly, while the electrons are like the marbles.
