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Why current flow in the opposite direction of flowing electron?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Electrons do not flow, but they might be though of as 'flowing' as they transfer charges between them. The reason that electron flow is the opposite direction from current is that historical theories of electrical flow (current) treated it as a movement of positive charges rather than negative charges.
There is no actual difference that could be discerned, except that we now know that negative charges (electrons) constitute the basis of most common electricity.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoCurrent is said to flow from positive to negative. That was an arbitrary choice when people had found electric current but didn't know what it was. It was later discovered that electric current consists mainly of electrons, and they are negative which means they flow from negative to positive.
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When charges continually shift from flowing in one direction to flowing in the reverse direction what current is there?
It is called an alternating current
When charges continually shift from flowing in one direction to flowing in the reverse direction there is a what current?
Alternating current would fit this description.
How does the flow of current within the simple cell differ from that in a copper wire?
One terminal of a cell or battery is positive, while the other is negative. It is convenient to think of current as flowing from positive to negative. This is called conventional current. Current arrows in circuit diagrams always point in the conventional direction. However, you should be aware that this is the direction of flow for a positively-chargedparticle.In a copper wire, the charge carriers are electrons. Electrons are negatively-charged and therefore flow from negative to positive. This means that electron flow is opposite in direction to conventional current.
What is current flowing in One Direction?
There is two types of current. Direct current and alternant current. The one running in only one direction is Direct current.
The opposite direction of conventional current?
It doesn't always do so, but it does, in the case of an electron current."Conventional current" is, by definition, the equivalent of a flow of positive electric charge. So, if a current consists of positive carriers (e.g., holes, or positive ions), the conventional current flows in the same direction as the current carriers. On the other hand, if the current consists of negative carriers (like electrons - the most common carrier for electric current), the electrons flow in one direction, but the conventional (positive, fictitious you might say) current flows in the other direction.On a macroscopic scale, it is often useful to forget about the actual current carriers; for example, an electron current flowing to the left, and a current of positive ions flowing to the right, will have the same effect on a magnetic field.It doesn't always do so, but it does, in the case of an electron current."Conventional current" is, by definition, the equivalent of a flow of positive electric charge. So, if a current consists of positive carriers (e.g., holes, or positive ions), the conventional current flows in the same direction as the current carriers. On the other hand, if the current consists of negative carriers (like electrons - the most common carrier for electric current), the electrons flow in one direction, but the conventional (positive, fictitious you might say) current flows in the other direction.On a macroscopic scale, it is often useful to forget about the actual current carriers; for example, an electron current flowing to the left, and a current of positive ions flowing to the right, will have the same effect on a magnetic field.It doesn't always do so, but it does, in the case of an electron current."Conventional current" is, by definition, the equivalent of a flow of positive electric charge. So, if a current consists of positive carriers (e.g., holes, or positive ions), the conventional current flows in the same direction as the current carriers. On the other hand, if the current consists of negative carriers (like electrons - the most common carrier for electric current), the electrons flow in one direction, but the conventional (positive, fictitious you might say) current flows in the other direction.On a macroscopic scale, it is often useful to forget about the actual current carriers; for example, an electron current flowing to the left, and a current of positive ions flowing to the right, will have the same effect on a magnetic field.It doesn't always do so, but it does, in the case of an electron current."Conventional current" is, by definition, the equivalent of a flow of positive electric charge. So, if a current consists of positive carriers (e.g., holes, or positive ions), the conventional current flows in the same direction as the current carriers. On the other hand, if the current consists of negative carriers (like electrons - the most common carrier for electric current), the electrons flow in one direction, but the conventional (positive, fictitious you might say) current flows in the other direction.On a macroscopic scale, it is often useful to forget about the actual current carriers; for example, an electron current flowing to the left, and a current of positive ions flowing to the right, will have the same effect on a magnetic field.
Why the current is flowing in opposite direction in cables?
the charge of the electron is negative
Why current flowing from positive to negative?
because current flows in the opposite direction of the flow of electron.since electrons are negatively charged particle they moves towards the positive and hence current flows in the opposite direction to the flow of electrons (that is from positive to negative)
What is the difference between altenating current and direct current?
The current (or electrons if you will {but thought of as flowing in the opposite direction} in a DC circuit flows only in one direction. In an AC circuit the current periodically flows in the opposite direction (in the US this usually happens 120 times a second, so 60 cycles per second.)
When charges continually shift from flowing in one direction to flowing in the reverse direction what current is there?
It is called an alternating current
When charges continually shift from flowing in one direction to flowing in the reverse direction there is a what current?
Alternating current would fit this description.
Do electrons really flow when current flows?
That means that there is actually something - the electrons - flowing in the specified direction. On the other hand, the "conventional current" is defined as the equivalent flow of positive charge. In the case that the charge carriers are negative (such as electrons), the conventional current flows in the opposite direction to the actual movement of charges.
Why it is that electron does not flow there is no current flowing?
Electrons are in random motion in a material, such that there is no resultant electron movement. Hence a material has no current flow by its own. Only the directed flow of this charge in a direction, will results in current. when we provide sufficient energy (for example by mean of applied potential difference ) the net motion of the electron gives rise to the current flow.
An oceanographer notes a whirlpool of warm water in the middle of the cold Sargasso Sea How is this possible?
A countercurrent is flowing in the opposite direction of the wind-related current.
When charges continually shift from flowing in one direction to flowing in the reverse direction?
. . . then that would be alternating current, or simply, 'AC'.
How electric current flows in a circuit?
There is a potential difference (voltage) between two points and a path for electrons to travel from an area of low potential (negative) to an area of high potential (positive). Note the direction of "current flow" is opposite the direction of electron flow. In other words current flows from positive to negative. In a circuit involving only a resistor, the current flowing in the circuit is given by I=V/R where I = current, V= voltage, and R=resistance.
How does electrical current flow in a circuit?
There is a potential difference (voltage) between two points and a path for electrons to travel from an area of low potential (negative) to an area of high potential (positive). Note the direction of "current flow" is opposite the direction of electron flow. In other words current flows from positive to negative. In a circuit involving only a resistor, the current flowing in the circuit is given by I=V/R where I = current, V= voltage, and R=resistance.
How does electricity flow in a circuit?
There is a potential difference (voltage) between two points and a path for electrons to travel from an area of low potential (negative) to an area of high potential (positive). Note the direction of "current flow" is opposite the direction of electron flow. In other words current flows from positive to negative. In a circuit involving only a resistor, the current flowing in the circuit is given by I=V/R where I = current, V= voltage, and R=resistance.
