coventional flow of current........................................
2007-12-15 07:39:29 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
After the current convention was decided (current from from Plus to Negative)...is was found that the current was composed of electrons which carried a NEGATIVE charge
We still refer to anode and cathode which came from valve technology
Puzzled ...that no-one mentioned the negative charge
that's the key to the naming convention being "wrong"
2007-12-15 09:52:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The symbols (+,-) for current were agreed upon a long time ago before we had the ability or understanding to determine which way the electrons were actually going. So we use the age old convention and just understand that the electron flow will be opposite of that instead of rewriting a ton of equations and mathematical formulas.
2007-12-15 08:09:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Electrons are negative charge carriers and they carry electrical charge in a metallic conductor. By convention, a current is supposed to flow from a higher potential to a lower potential point in the conductor. An electron source is always at a lower potential from where they flow to an electron sink which must be at a higher (+) potential. Hence the electron flow and current flow(positive charge) are in opposite directions.
2016-04-09 05:15:19 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the conventional flow travels from the positive side to the negative side and the electrons travels from the negative side to the positive side.
2007-12-15 07:48:37 · answer #4 · answered by Kara S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The convention was made before we understood how it worked.
Electrons were discovered in the late 1800's/early 1900's we had been using circuits well before that. Ohm did his work in 1827.
I would be interested to know how the original convention was decided.
2007-12-15 07:53:34 · answer #5 · answered by Spartan R 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
While most of the above answers are accurate, I would like to add that in some materials (P-type semiconductors, acids, ionic solutions) electricity can flow in the form of positive charge carriers.
2007-12-15 14:34:34 · answer #6 · answered by quicksilv3rflash 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a convention that goes back to a mistake by Ben Franklin.
2007-12-15 10:41:49 · answer #7 · answered by Clueless Dick 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just by established convention.
2007-12-15 10:38:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its by convention , no physical basis
the only actual flow is for electrons
2007-12-15 07:53:20 · answer #9 · answered by Nur S 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
very confusing problem. check out in yahoo and bing. that can help!
2014-11-14 20:34:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋