what is the conventional direction of the flow of electric current ? how does it differ from the direction of flow of elctrons
Answers
Answered by
45
Hi, hope this helps you...
Conventional Current assumes that current flows out of the positive terminal, through the circuit and into the negative terminal of the source. This was the convention chosen during the discovery of electricity. They were wrong!
Electron Flow is what actually happens and electrons flow out of the negative terminal, through the circuit and into the positive terminal of the source.
Both Conventional Current and Electron Flow are used. This
Conventional Current Example
Floyd, 1989, Principles of Electric Circuits, 5th edition, Conventional Current Version.
Electron Flow Example
Floyd, 1990, Principles of Electric Circuits, 4th edition, Electron Flow Version.
In fact, it makes no difference which way current is flowing as long as it is used consistently. The direction of current flow does not affect what the current does.
In general, high school Physics and two year technician programs use Electron Flow.
But three year technologist and university engineering programs use Conventional Current. Certain symbols (ex. diodes and transistors) and rules (ex. Right-hand rules) were created using Conventional Current. Changing from Conventional Current to Electron Flow would cause a degree of confusion for old and new students and errors would occur, so Conventional Current was kept to ensure there was no confusion with those already trained with Conventional Current. Two systems may seem confusing, but as long as usage is consistent, it really is not!
You must realize what convention is being used because the rules change. Ex. Right-Hand rules in Conventional Current become Left-Hand rules in Electron Flow.
Conventional Current assumes that current flows out of the positive terminal, through the circuit and into the negative terminal of the source. This was the convention chosen during the discovery of electricity. They were wrong!
Electron Flow is what actually happens and electrons flow out of the negative terminal, through the circuit and into the positive terminal of the source.
Both Conventional Current and Electron Flow are used. This
Conventional Current Example
Floyd, 1989, Principles of Electric Circuits, 5th edition, Conventional Current Version.
Electron Flow Example
Floyd, 1990, Principles of Electric Circuits, 4th edition, Electron Flow Version.
In fact, it makes no difference which way current is flowing as long as it is used consistently. The direction of current flow does not affect what the current does.
In general, high school Physics and two year technician programs use Electron Flow.
But three year technologist and university engineering programs use Conventional Current. Certain symbols (ex. diodes and transistors) and rules (ex. Right-hand rules) were created using Conventional Current. Changing from Conventional Current to Electron Flow would cause a degree of confusion for old and new students and errors would occur, so Conventional Current was kept to ensure there was no confusion with those already trained with Conventional Current. Two systems may seem confusing, but as long as usage is consistent, it really is not!
You must realize what convention is being used because the rules change. Ex. Right-Hand rules in Conventional Current become Left-Hand rules in Electron Flow.
Answered by
130
Hii,
The conventional direction of electric current is from positive terminal of a cell to the negative terminal, through the outer circuit.
The actual flow of electrons is, however, from negative terminal to positive terminal of a cell, which is opposite to the direction of conventional current.
Hope this will help....
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