Sperm

I've been looking all over the web, boy mom tendencies running high over here, and can't seem to find a solid answer to my question. Thought you girls could help.

So if I had sex a day or two before ovulation and the sperm were ready and waiting in the tube when the egg showed up, is there a period of time (like hours?) with the egg and the sperm(s?) circling each other before one sperm penetrates the egg or is this an automatic thing (within minutes?). I saw some articles about how the egg isn't as passive as once believed so wasn't sure if this "selection process" of the egg attracting the sperm was more involved.

No one really knows. They've seen it happen in a Petri dish, of course but it may work differently in the body and likely varies by individual and in any given month.