At what speed does electricity travel?

Electricity, specifically the electromagnetic signal that represents electrical energy, travels at approximately 186,000 miles per second in a vacuum. This speed is commonly referred to as the speed of light, as electromagnetic waves, including those used for electricity, propagate at this rate. Understanding this speed is crucial for grasping how electrical signals are transmitted over vast distances, impacting various technologies such as telecommunications and broadcasting.

While other options present significant figures, they either refer to different contexts or are inaccurate in relation to the speed of electrical signals. For example, although 300,000 miles per second is often approximated for practical measurements, it generally rounds off the speed of light more so than something specifically about electricity. Thus, the most accurate and commonly referenced figure regarding the speed of electricity traveling through conductive materials is 186,000 miles per second.