wiz-icon
MyQuestionIcon
MyQuestionIcon
1
You visited us 1 times! Enjoying our articles? Unlock Full Access!
Question

why the direction of electric current is taken as opposite to the direction of the flow of electrons,even though electric current is the flow of electrons?

Open in App
Solution

The direction of flow of electrons in a circuit is opposite to the direction of the flow of current. Protons of an atom don’t take part in conduction of electricity.

Accumulation of electrons in the negative terminal of a battery creates a negative potential (low potential), and the deficiency of electrons in the positive terminal creates a positive potential (high potential). Hence, electrons flow from low potential to high potential; but current as we know flows from high to low potential.

Flow of current is not the flow of positive charge or protons. It is a convention that has been followed since the discovery of electric charge, that current flows from high potential to low potential .


flag
Suggest Corrections
thumbs-up
0
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
similar_icon
Related Videos
thumbnail
lock
Electric Current(I)
PHYSICS
Watch in App
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
CrossIcon