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Electron flow is from negative to positive. Conventional current flow is from positive to negative.

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What is the relationship between the direction of current and direction of electron flow in a current-carrying wire?

The direction of current flow is defined as the direction positive charge carriers would flow, which is opposite to the actual movement of electrons (negative charge carriers) in a wire. Electrons flow from the negative terminal of a power source to the positive terminal, while conventional current flows from the positive terminal to the negative terminal.


What is the difference between electron flow and conventional current?

We all know that, in metal conductors (but not in other conducting media), free electrons slowly drift from the negative end of the conductor to the positive (or 'less negative') end of the conductor. But before anyone knew about atoms, an electric current was thought to be the flow of some sort of 'fluid' from a higher pressure (i.e. positive pressure) to a lower pressure (i.e. a negative pressure) -as suggested by Benjamin Franklin. This error was reinforced by Michael Faraday as a result from his experiments in electrolysis.So 'electron flow' (- to +) describes what is actuallyhappening in a metal conductor, whereas 'conventional flow' (+ to -) is, to put it simply, an error!Unfortunately, because so many 'rules' that relate current direction to the direction of magnetic fields and electric fields were based on conventional flow, many textbooks have found it convenient to stick with conventional flow.


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 refers to electric current when electrons always flow in the same direction in the wire?

Direct current (DC) refers to electric current where electrons always flow in the same direction in the wire. This is in contrast to alternating current (AC), where the flow of electrons periodically reverses direction. DC is commonly used in batteries and electronic devices that require steady and constant voltage.


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.

Related Questions

In which direction does conventional current flow?

Conventional current is defined as the flow of positive charges. If the actual flow is negative particles (as is often the case; usually electrons), the conventional current flows in the direction opposite to the electron flow.


Do electrons travel in the same direction in a circuit?

In a circuit, electrons flow from the negative terminal to the positive terminal of the voltage source (such as a battery). This flow of electrons is opposite to the conventional current direction, which is from positive to negative. So, while electrons themselves move in one direction, the conventional current moves in the opposite direction.


Which direction does the conventional flow of energy move?

The term "conventional flow" is usually used specifically for electricity, not for any kind of energy. If the current consists of electrons, then, if the electrons move in one direction, the conventional flow (a ficticious flow of positive charge) flows in the opposite direction. If the electric flow consists of positive charges, then the conventional flow and the physical, or real, flow, are in the same direction. An electron current is the most common case, though.


What direction do electrons flow in a electrolytic cell?

Electrons flow from the negative electrode (cathode) to the positive electrode (anode) in an electrolytic cell. This is the opposite direction of conventional current flow.


Difference between electron flow and conventional current?

Conventional current flow refers to a flow of positive charges. It is a kind of ficticious current. If - as is often the case - the real current is an electron flow (negative charges), then the conventional flow is a current in the opposite direction as the electron movements, since this would have the same effect (for example on the magnetic field, or on conservation of charge).


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.


Define Conventional current?

Current as a transfer of (+) charge so thats its direction of flow is opposite to that of electrons which are (-) charged


A grounding wire allows the movement of electrons in which direction?

Electrons flow from the negative terminal to the positive. Conventional current or simply current, behaves as if positive charge carriers cause current flow. Conventional current flows from the positive terminal to the negative


Do the electrons flow in conventional current?

A conventional current is a fictitious current - a flow of positive charges. If the real current consists of electrons, the conventional current flows in the opposite direction as the electron movement. The real current may also consist of other charged particles, for example positive or negative ions in a solution.


What is the relationship between the direction of current and direction of electron flow in a current-carrying wire?

The direction of current flow is defined as the direction positive charge carriers would flow, which is opposite to the actual movement of electrons (negative charge carriers) in a wire. Electrons flow from the negative terminal of a power source to the positive terminal, while conventional current flows from the positive terminal to the negative terminal.


What is the conventional current flow?

Conventional current flow is the flow of positive charges, or the equivalent flow of positive charges. That is, if what flows is really negative charges (for example, an electron), which flow in one direction, the "conventional current" flows in the opposite direction.


Do electrons get emptied in a connection with switch opened given a dc supply?

No, the electrons just starts flowing across the closed circuit, in the direction opposite to the flow of currentIt is confusing to say that 'electrons flow in the opposite direction to current' because, in metal conductors, current is a flow of electrons! 'Conventional flow', which is being referred to, here, is simply a convention and doesn't represent real current flow. Considering how long we have known about electrons, it's really about time we abandoned 'conventional flow'.