Circuits
Electrons can flow only when a circuit is complete. The diagram below displays a simple circuit (similar to how an electric torch would work). The chemical process within the battery causes a charge to be separated which provides a voltage, or electrical pressure, enabling electrons to flow. The negatively charged electrons are attracted to the positive charge in the battery. This provokes the electrons into traversing the copper wire, through the switch, through the bulbs filament and towards the positive charge which will complete the circuit.
Example Circuit
The circuits within computer chips use the same concepts as this very simple circuit. Although one main difference is that computers use electrical switches as opposed to a manual or mechanical switches (as seen in the above diagram). The development of the electrical switch, or transistor, led to the mass development of integrated circuits found in today’s microprocessors.