2006-08-31 00:40:39 · 7 answers · asked by winmarc14 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Actually, electrical current IS defined as the flow of positive charge. This is a relic of the way charge was first described by none other than Benjamin Frankin.
A positive current carried by negative electrons means that the "current" is flowing in the direction opposite to the electron velocity. This makes sense because we usually think of matter as being electrically neutral. The removal of negative charge from one place is electrodynamically equivalent to the accumulation of positive charge there, although what's really happening is that the positive charge is just being "unmasked."
So a current of negative charges flowing right-to-left is electromagnetically equivalent to a positive current flowing left-to-right.
When you use the right-hand rules to figure out forces and magnetic fields, you are using the positive-current definition. If instead you want a rule defined for electron velocity, just use your left hand.
2006-08-31 02:20:34 · answer #1 · answered by Benjamin N 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Current flow has been defined as the flow of POSITIVE charges.
This is because when the electron was first conceived as an idea, it was given a positive charge. However, when it was discovered that it actually has a negative charge, the decision was made that the original definition of current will be followed.
Even though the electron had a negative charge, it was still the only carrier of charge associated with electromagnetism. So to get around, we defined the electron flow as opposite in direction to the current flow, but still numerically equal.
2006-08-31 00:58:29 · answer #2 · answered by dennis_d_wurm 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Current is defined as a flow of charge. Not positive charge, not negative charge. Just charge. Period. If charge is being carried by an electron, it's a negative charge and it flowes from the 'negative' to the 'positive' side of the electric field which imparts a force upon on it. This is electron flow. In semiconductors there is a conceptual particle called a 'hole' which carries a positive charge and flows from the positive to the negative side of an electric field.
It is also possible to have current flow caused by positive or negative ions. There are, IIRC, some 200+ different charge transport mechanisms known and each one of them counts as 'current flow'.
Doug
2006-08-31 01:28:49 · answer #3 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From what i can remember from my a-level physics, ( a long time ago) current is defined as the rate of electron flow.So really were talking about how many electrons flow through a given conductor over a given amount of time. Electrons (charge) is measured in Coulombs so charge/time = current
the fundamental equation you need is 1Coulomb/1 sec =
1 Amp :D
anyway to answer your question current IS electron flow
2006-08-31 00:54:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to my electrical subject in high school, current is a flow of electrons. Electron has a negative charge and if it flows, you can see a diagram from - to +. I tried finding the diagram of it during my highschool years and electrocuted out of curiousity. you can try. Cheers!!!!
2006-08-31 01:48:48 · answer #5 · answered by sunkenme 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Current flow from higher potential to lower potential.Just like water flow from higher ground to lower ground.
2006-09-01 08:01:40 · answer #6 · answered by dwarf 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the convention (set before electrons were descovered) for current flow is from +ve to -ve voltage.
electrons are -ve charge so actually flow -ve to +ve.
2006-08-31 00:47:08 · answer #7 · answered by fred 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋