Conventional current flows from positive to negative terminal
Charge & Current - OCR A-Level Physics
- Conventional currentThe rate of flow of chargeA property of matter that causes it to experience a force in an electromagnetic field. Measured in coulombs (C).. Measured in amperes (A).The direction of currentThe rate of flow of chargeA property of matter that causes it to experience a force in an electromagnetic field. Measured in coulombs (C).. Measured in amperes (A). flow defined as from positive to negative. Opposite to the direction of electron flow. flows from positive to negative terminal.
- Electron flow is from negative to positive terminal.
- These are opposite directions.
- Conventional currentThe rate of flow of chargeA property of matter that causes it to experience a force in an electromagnetic field. Measured in coulombs (C).. Measured in amperes (A).The direction of current flow defined as from positive to negative. Opposite to the direction of electron flow. was defined before the electron was discovered.
- Circuit diagrams always show conventional currentThe direction of current flow defined as from positive to negative. Opposite to the direction of electron flow. direction.
Simple circuit with battery showing conventional currentThe direction of current flow defined as from positive to negative. Opposite to the direction of electron flow. flowing clockwise (+ to -) and electron flow anticlockwise (- to +), with clear arrows and labels for both directions.
Common Mistake
MEDIUM
Wrong: Conventional current flows from negative to positive.
Right: Conventional current flows from positive to negative. Electron flow is the opposite: negative to positive. This is a classic 1-mark exam question.
Right: Conventional current flows from positive to negative. Electron flow is the opposite: negative to positive. This is a classic 1-mark exam question.