What is the path of an electric current?

Answer 1

An electric current is a flow of electrons from an area having a high concentration to one having a lower concentration of electrons. Therefore an electric current will always flow from negative to positive.

However, the idea of "conventional current flow" was created before the true facts were discovered. Conventional current flow states that the current flows from positive to negative. Many electricians still use the notion of conventional current rather than the more correct scientifically proven one which is described in the paragraph above.

Answer 2

An electric current is ordinarily a flow of electrons along a circuit. These flow from the negative terminal to the positive.

An exception occurs where there is ionization which is the name for the separation of the elements which make up a chemical compound. Ionization can be the result of dissolving a compound in a fluid or electrical sparking. In this case there may be flow from the positive to the negative, sometimes accompanied by the actual transfer of physical material. This will cause pitting on the positive terminal, and deposition on the negative. This type of flow is the reason that electroplating - the process by which one metal or alloy (such as brass) is coated by another (such as chrome, silver or gold) works. Ionization also occurs in parts of a stroke of lightning.

But for the ordinary purpose of describing how the flow of current in an electrical circuit works, electrons flow from negative to positive potential.

Answer 3

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