Question

Electric current is the flow of electrons which is negatively charged through a conductor.

Yet, direction of electric current is said to be opposite to the direction of flow of electrons. Why?

Explain clearly … Points : 25 ☺

Answer 1

in free stage , electrons move randomly in all direction . e.g their motion is zig-zag motion .

after connection with battery or potential device . we see electrons moves in specific direction .
first of all we have to known about battery .
battery :- battery is a device for giving potential .which have two pole , known as positive and negative pole .

we know, electrons have negative charges .
according to columbs law , we know,
negative charge attract with positive charge .

so, after connection from battery current flow from positive terminal to negative terminal of battery .

but electrons flow from negative terminal to positive terminal because electrons ejected from negative terminal and go to positive terminal .

an other way we can say that ,
in negative terminal ( because here big quantity of electrons exist) of battery eject electrons and move to positive terminal .
but from potential of positive terminal is high from negative terminal .so , current flow from positive terminal to negative terminal . both are move in opposite directions .
hence, electrons moves in opposite directions of current .

Answer 2

     When a circuit is connected to a battery, then electrons flow from the anode: negative terminal to the positive terminal: cathode.  That happens because there is a potential difference between the two terminals.  That is like water flowing from a higher location to a lower location. As cathode is at a higher potential than anode, charge is supposed to flow from cathode to anode.

   For convenience of formulas and by convention the direction of current is decided to be the direction of positive charge from higher potential to lower potential.

   But in reality positive charges do not flow in conductors. Only electrons move along the wires or conductors.  In solutions positive and negative charges flow.

   Thus it is by convention that flow direction of positive charges is chosen to be the direction of conventional current.  It is by convenience and convention. Thus the flow of current happens to be the opposite direction to that of electron flow in conductors. This is the convention chosen by the inventors and discoverers like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Alva Edison and others at that time.

   In some situations in semiconductors or solutions, the positive charges move and negative charges (need not be electrons only) move simultaneously in opposite directions. In that case too the direction of current is defined as the direction of positive charges.