Do electrons go from positive to negative?
2 Answers
The direction in which electrons move is often a source of confusion, so let's break it down:
**1. Conventional Current vs. Electron Flow:**
In electrical engineering and physics, there are two ways to describe current flow:
- **Conventional Current:** This is the direction that positive charge would flow, which is from the positive terminal to the negative terminal of a power source. This convention dates back to before the discovery of the electron, so it was based on the idea that current flows from positive to negative.
- **Electron Flow:** This is the actual movement of electrons. Electrons are negatively charged particles, so they move from the negative terminal to the positive terminal of a power source. This is the true direction of the flow of electric charge.
**2. Why the Difference?**
When Benjamin Franklin first described electricity, he assigned the direction of current flow without knowing about electrons. He assumed that current flowed from positive to negative. When the electron was later discovered, it became clear that electrons flow in the opposite direction, but the original convention of current direction was already well-established and widely used.
**3. Practical Implications:**
In practical terms, when you look at a circuit diagram or think about current flow in devices, it's important to know which convention is being used:
- If you're working with conventional current, the flow is from positive to negative.
- If you're considering electron flow, the direction is from negative to positive.
In summary, electrons move from the negative terminal to the positive terminal of a power source, while conventional current is described as flowing from positive to negative. Both descriptions are correct but serve different purposes based on historical and practical considerations.
**1. Conventional Current vs. Electron Flow:**
In electrical engineering and physics, there are two ways to describe current flow:
- **Conventional Current:** This is the direction that positive charge would flow, which is from the positive terminal to the negative terminal of a power source. This convention dates back to before the discovery of the electron, so it was based on the idea that current flows from positive to negative.
- **Electron Flow:** This is the actual movement of electrons. Electrons are negatively charged particles, so they move from the negative terminal to the positive terminal of a power source. This is the true direction of the flow of electric charge.
**2. Why the Difference?**
When Benjamin Franklin first described electricity, he assigned the direction of current flow without knowing about electrons. He assumed that current flowed from positive to negative. When the electron was later discovered, it became clear that electrons flow in the opposite direction, but the original convention of current direction was already well-established and widely used.
**3. Practical Implications:**
In practical terms, when you look at a circuit diagram or think about current flow in devices, it's important to know which convention is being used:
- If you're working with conventional current, the flow is from positive to negative.
- If you're considering electron flow, the direction is from negative to positive.
In summary, electrons move from the negative terminal to the positive terminal of a power source, while conventional current is described as flowing from positive to negative. Both descriptions are correct but serve different purposes based on historical and practical considerations.