Answer to Question #201359 in Physics for Femi

Question

Explain the reason why the mean drift velocity of conductors are very slow yet light switches on immediately the switch is turned on.

Answer 1

Although the electrons indeed move at a rate of approximately millimeters per second in metal conductors, electromagnetic field that makes the electrons move is propagating at the speed of light, which means that all electrons within the conductor length start moving almost immediately as we close the switch.