text: how do electrons move?   within in atom? or do you mean in an environment like an electrical wire with a current running through it?  electrons move by changing location with respect to time... dx/dt  when you move an atom (like by picking up your arm) lots and lots of electrons move.  when you set up a magnetic field electrons move in order to relieve the stress placed on what was previously their equilibrium state.  in a wire electrons move very very very slowly at something called the drift speed.