Write the conventions about the direction of flow of current
Answers
Answered by
0
When Benjamin Franklin made his conjecture regarding the direction of charge flow using the experimental setup of smooth wax and rough wool, he set a precedent for electrical notation that exists to this day. Franklin assumed that the current flows from the place of surplus charge carriers to the place of deficient charge carriers. However it was discovered later that since the charge carriers are in fact electrons, the original place of surplus charge carriers (called positive) is actually electron deficient and the place of deficient charge carriers (called negative) actually has a surplus of electrons.
By the time the true direction of electron flow was discovered, the nomenclature of “positive” and “negative” had already been so well established in the scientific community that no effort was made to change it. Also, because we tend to associate the word “positive” with “surplus” and “negative” with “deficiency,” the standard label for electron charge does seem backward. Because of this, many engineers decided to retain the old concept of electricity with “positive” referring to a surplus of charge, and label charge flow (current) accordingly. This became known as “conventional flow” notation. Some others chose to designate charge flow according to the actual motion of electrons in a circuit. This notation became known as “electron flow” notation.
There can also be other charge carriers (besides electrons) in a circuit such as flow of “holes” in a semiconductor which flow in the direction of conventional current and “ions” in an electrolyte.
The below picture (taken from Wikipedia) shows the actual current flow and electron flows.
Conclusion: The current flows from +ve to -ve (shown by the red line in above image) whereas the electrons flow from -ve to +ve (shown by the green line in above image)
By the time the true direction of electron flow was discovered, the nomenclature of “positive” and “negative” had already been so well established in the scientific community that no effort was made to change it. Also, because we tend to associate the word “positive” with “surplus” and “negative” with “deficiency,” the standard label for electron charge does seem backward. Because of this, many engineers decided to retain the old concept of electricity with “positive” referring to a surplus of charge, and label charge flow (current) accordingly. This became known as “conventional flow” notation. Some others chose to designate charge flow according to the actual motion of electrons in a circuit. This notation became known as “electron flow” notation.
There can also be other charge carriers (besides electrons) in a circuit such as flow of “holes” in a semiconductor which flow in the direction of conventional current and “ions” in an electrolyte.
The below picture (taken from Wikipedia) shows the actual current flow and electron flows.
Conclusion: The current flows from +ve to -ve (shown by the red line in above image) whereas the electrons flow from -ve to +ve (shown by the green line in above image)
Similar questions
English,
7 months ago
Social Sciences,
7 months ago
Geography,
7 months ago
English,
1 year ago
Geography,
1 year ago