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Potential difference, voltage, is a force that will cause electrons (negative charges) to move if they can. Voltage is the motive power behind electron flow, and electron flow is the current. In a battery, we have voltage between (or across) the terminals from chemical energy inside. We don't have to have current flow to have the voltage. Some might think of voltage as "electrical pressure" because it is a force. That isn't a bad way to look at it. If we connect some wires and put a light bulb and a switch in series across the terminals of the battery, we have a circuit. If we close the switch, voltage, which was present all the time, will now cause electrons to flow through the wire and light the bulb. The battery has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The positive terminal will take in electrons and the negative terminal will send them out. Current flows in only one direction. The potential difference created by the battery has energized the circuit and current flowed from the negative terminal of the battery, out through the circuit, and back to the positive one.

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What determines the direction of electric field?

The potential difference. The electrons flows from a lower potential to a higher potential. The electric current flows in the opposite direction. The electric field's direction is always from a higher potential to a lower potential. Its kind of like a waterfall. The water always falls down not up. It goes from a higher potential to a lower potential.


Why you get electric shock when current flows opposite direction in a conductor?

When current flows in opposite directions in a conductor, a potential difference is created between the entry and exit points of the body. This potential difference causes an electric shock when the body comes into contact with a conductive material, leading to current passing through the body and potentially causing harm.


What is a electrical current is produced when charges are accelerated by an electrical field to move to a position of potential energy that is?

An electric current is produced when charges are accelerated by an electric field and move to a position of potential energy difference. This movement of charges generates a flow of electric charge that constitutes an electric current.


What is the cell potential?

Cell potential, also known as electromotive force (EMF), is the measure of the driving force behind the flow of electrons in an electrochemical cell. It is the difference in electric potential between two electrodes in a cell and is a measure of the cell's ability to produce an electric current. The cell potential is a key factor in determining the feasibility and direction of redox reactions in a cell.


What direction does direct current flow in?

Curren flow from high potential to low potential or simply, positive pole to negetive pole.

Related Questions

How does the increase or decrease of potential difference affect the flow of the electric current?

Increase or decrease in potential results in the change in direction of the flow of electric current.


What determines the direction of Electric?

The potential difference. The electrons flows from a lower potential to a higher potential. The electric current flows in the opposite direction. The electric field's direction is always from a higher potential to a lower potential. Its kind of like a waterfall. The water always falls down not up. It goes from a higher potential to a lower potential.


What enables the electric current to move through a material?

The electric current moves in the direction opposite to the flow of electrons by convention.When a potential difference is applied to a material which has "loose" electrons, the electrons move in a direction opposite to the potential gradient and the current moves in the opposite direction to the flow of electrons.This is how current flows in materials.


What determines the direction of electric field?

The potential difference. The electrons flows from a lower potential to a higher potential. The electric current flows in the opposite direction. The electric field's direction is always from a higher potential to a lower potential. Its kind of like a waterfall. The water always falls down not up. It goes from a higher potential to a lower potential.


What is the difference between conventional current and electric current?

Conventional current is the flow of positive charge from higher potential to lower potential, while electric current is the flow of electrons from lower potential to higher potential.


Why does the current flow through wire?

Current flows through a wire when there is a difference in electric potential between two points. This potential difference creates an electric field that drives the flow of electric charge (current) through the wire.


What is the relationship between potential difference and direction of flow of current in an electric circuit?

Electric current always flows from high potential to low potential. This creates the flow of electric current in an electric circuit.AnswerIn a metal conductor, current is defined as a drift of free electrons. As electrons are negatively charged, this means that current drifts along a conductor from a negative potential to a positive potential.However....Current direction is often defined as a drift from a positive potential to a negative potential. This is termed 'conventional flow', and dates back to when scientists, such as Benjamin Franklin, believed that current was some sort of fluid that flowed from a higher pressure ('positive' pressure) to a lower pressure ('negative' pressure). Although incorrect, conventional flow is still widely-used today in many textbooks.


Why you get electric shock when current flows opposite direction in a conductor?

When current flows in opposite directions in a conductor, a potential difference is created between the entry and exit points of the body. This potential difference causes an electric shock when the body comes into contact with a conductive material, leading to current passing through the body and potentially causing harm.


Is The units of electric current is the volt?

NO! (the units of electric current is Amperes).


Is it true for an electric current to flow only if two objects have a different charge?

No, electric current flows due to the movement of charged particles, usually electrons. Two objects with the same charge can still have current flow between them if there is a potential difference (voltage) present.


What Electric potential or potential difference?

Electric potential (also known as voltage) is the amount of electric potential energy per unit of charge at a specific point in an electric field. It is measured in volts (V) and determines the ability of a charge to do work. Potential difference is the difference in electric potential between two points in an electric field and is responsible for the flow of electric current between those points.


What is the difference between electron flow direction and electric current flow direction?

the electrons flow from the region of low potential to region of high potential. the electric current also flow in this direction but for convention we took it as the flow of positive charge from region of low to high region potential.