Is it true that electrical current is produced when an electron from one atom knocks electrons from another atom out of orbit?

The statement is true because electrical current occurs due to the flow of electrons. When an electron from one atom knocks electrons from another atom out of orbit, it creates free electrons that can move through a conductor. This movement of freed electrons constitutes an electrical current.

In conductive materials, such as metals, there are many free electrons available, which facilitate the continuous flow of current when an external energy source, like a battery or generator, creates a potential difference. The collision of electrons can lead to the excitation of other electrons, resulting in a chain reaction that allows for a sustained current to flow.

This process is fundamental to understanding how electrical circuits work and how various materials behave in the presence of an electric field. In insulators, this interaction is less effective as they do not have free electrons available to carry the current, thus differentiating their behavior compared to conductive materials.