Electricity from electrons arises because electrons move in response to a drive that pushes or pulls them in a circuit, and a closed loop lets them keep moving. At a basic level:

• What electrons are doing: In a metal, electrons are not bound to a single atom; they form a "sea" of mobile charges. When a potential difference (voltage) is applied across a conductor, these electrons experience an electric force that causes them to drift in a preferred direction, creating an electric current. The drift is slow for individual electrons, but the signal propagates through the material very quickly, so devices light up or motor spin essentially instantaneously.

• What creates the drive: A source of energy (like a battery, generator, or power grid) supplies energy to push electrons around the loop. In a battery, chemical reactions push electrons from the negative to the positive terminal; in a generator, mechanical energy moves magnets or coils to induce a current. The continuous drive maintains current as long as the circuit is closed and energy is supplied.

• What a circuit looks like: An electric circuit is a closed path so electrons can flow from the source, through wires and the load (lamp, motor, resistor), and back to the source. The load converts some of the electrical energy into light, heat, or motion. When the switch is open, the path is broken and current stops; closing the switch completes the loop and current flows again.

• How fast the effect feels: The actual electrons move relatively slowly through the wire (drift speeds millimeters per second to meters per second), but the electrical signal propagates close to the speed of light along the conductor. This is why turning a light switch on makes the light illuminate essentially instantly.

• Common misconceptions clarified:
  • Electricity is not a single “substance” moving from one place to another; it is the flow of charge across the circuit. The electrons themselves move, but what you observe as current is the collective movement of many charges, driven by the electric field within the conductor.

* The presence of a magnetic field or changing magnetic flux (as in generators and transformers) helps induce currents but the fundamental driver remains the electric field created by the energy source.

If you’d like, I can tailor this explanation to a specific level (high school physics, college intro, or a hands-on experiment) or relate it to how a particular device (like a flashlight or a motor) uses electron flow.