> how can the conductor conduct when one of the ends is just hanging in the air? At frequencies where the wire radiates, you can't model a wire as an open resi

> how can the conductor conduct when one of the ends is just hanging in the air? At frequencies where the wire radiates, you can't model a wire as an open resistor. You need to model it as a bunch of Rs, Ls and Cs, and there you will see the current flow.