How does currents flow

Elements are identified by the number of electrons in orbit around nucleus of atoms and by the number of protons in nucleus. For example, the rubbing of material against another can cause the static electricity.

Free electrons of one material move forcefully till they are freed of their orbits around nucleus and move to another. Electrons of one material decrease, it presents positive charges. At the same time, electrons of another increase, it has negative charges. In general, charge producing of the matter means the matter has electric charges. It has positive and negative charges, which is expressed in coulomb.

What is Current? An electrical phenomenon is caused by flow of free electrons from one atom to another. The characteristics of current electricity are opposite to those of static electricity. Wires are made up of conductors such as copper or aluminum. Atoms of metal are made up of free electrons, which freely move from one atom to the next.

If an electron is added in wire, a free electron is attracted to a proton to be neutral. Forcing electrons out of their orbits can cause a lack of electrons. Electrons, which continuously move in wire, are called Electric Current. For solid conductors , electric current refers to directional negative-to-positive electrons from one atom to the next. Liquid conductors and gas conductors, electric current refers to electrons and protons flow in the opposite direction.

Current is determined by the number of electrons passing through a cross-section of a conductor in one second. Current is measured in amperes , which is abbreviated " amps ". The symbol for amps is a letter " A ". A current of one amp means that current pass through a cross-section of two conductors, which are placed in parallel 1 meter apart with 2x10 -7 Newton per meter force occur in each conductor. It can also mean charges of one coulomb or 6. What is voltage? Electric current is flow of electrons in a conductor.

The force required to make current flow through a conductor is called voltage and potential is the other term of voltage.

For example, the first element has more positive charges, so it has higher potential. On the other hand, the second element has charges that are more negative so it has lower potential.

The difference between two points is called potential difference. Electromotive force means the force which makes current continuously flows through a conductor. This force can be generated from power generator, battery, flashlight battery and fuel cell, etc.

Volt, abbreviated " V ", is the unit of measurement used interchangeably for voltage, potential, and electromotive force. One volt means a force which makes current of one amp move through a resistance of one ohm. What is resistance? Electrons move through a conductor when electric current flows. All materials impede flow of electric current to some extent.

This characteristic is called resistance. The pump pushes water to different parts of the pipe system, which then recombines, just like a parallel circuit funnels electricity along each parallel branch, which then also recombines. The water encounters resistance , just the way electricity in a parallel circuit would. The resistance to the water flow is provided by a coil of long, thin piping and a propeller that turns in response to the current.

A coil of narrow wire could serve as a resistor in an electric circuit. This missing valence electron is referred to as a hole. A hole, therefore, is not an actual particle, but simply a vacancy in the valence shell of the crystal lattice structure that acts like a current carrier. This vacancy or hole has a positive charge. If an electron passes near the hole, it will be attracted and it will fill the hole, completing the co-valent bond.

Current flow in this type of semiconductor material is by way of holes. This type of semiconductor material is referred to as P-type material. P means positive, which refers to the charge of the hole. When an electrical voltage is applied to a piece of P-type semiconductor material, electrons flow into the material from the negative terminal of the voltage source and fill the holes.

The positive charge of the external voltage source pulls electrons from the external orbits, creating new holes. Thus, electrons move from hole-to-hole. Electrons still flow from negative-to-positive, but holes move from positive-to-negative as they are created by the external charge. In certain types of materials, particularly liquids and plasmas, current flow is a combination of both electrons and ions. Figure 8 shows the simplified drawing of a voltage cell.

All cells consist of two electrodes of different materials immersed in a chemical called an electrolyte. The chemical reaction that takes place separates the charges that are created. Electrons pile up on one electrode as it gives up positive ions creating the negative terminal while electrons are pulled from the other electrode creating the positive terminal. Whenever you connect an external load to this battery, electrons flow from the negative plate, through the load, to the positive electrode.

Inside the cell, electrons actually flow from positive-to-negative while positive ions move from negative-to-positive. So why do we continue to perpetuate the myth of conventional current flow CCF when we have known for a century that current in most electrical and electronic circuits is electron flow EF?

I have been asking that question of my colleagues and others in industry and academic for years. Despite the fact that electron flow is the reality, all engineering schools insist on teaching CCF. If you were in the armed services or came up through the ranks as a technician, chances are you learned and favor electron flow. The way you learned it in school is what you tend to use when you design, analyze, troubleshoot, or teach out in the real world.

As you may know, it doesn't really matter which current direction you use as circuit analysis and design works either way. In fact, this issue only affects DC that flows in only one direction. In alternating current, electrons flow in both directions, moving back and forth at the frequency of operation. But if it truly does not matter which direction we assume, then why don't we default to the truth and end this nonsense once and for all?

If you ever want to start a lively conversation, maybe even an argument, try bringing up this subject in a group of technical people.

You just may be surprised at the intensity of the feelings and the sanctimonious attitudes on both sides. I've done this numerous times and I am still amazed at the emotional response this issue generates. My conclusion is that the concept of CCF will never be abandoned.

It is somewhat akin to forcing us all to switch to the metric system of measurement using meters and Celsius rather than feet and Fahrenheit with which we are more familiar and comfortable. CCF will continue to be taught from now on. I have come to accept this whole thing as one of the stranger quirks of electronics. Early researchers of electricity first discovered the concept of voltage and polarity, then later went on to define current as the motion of charges.

The term voltage means the energy that makes current flow. Initially, voltages were created by static means such as friction or by lightening. Later, chemical cells and batteries were used to create a constant charge or voltage. Mechanical generators were developed next. Charges refer to some kind of physical object that moves when it is subjected to the force of the voltage. Of course, back in the 18th century, those working on electrical projects didn't really know what the charges were. For all they knew, the charges could have been micro miniature purple cubes inside a wire or other conductor.

What they did know was that the voltage caused the charges to move. For purpose of analysis and discussion, they arbitrarily assumed that the charges were positive and flowed from positive-to-negative. This is a key point. They didn't really know the direction of current flow, so they theorized what was happening.

For example, a watt light bulb burning for 10 hours uses one kilowatt-hour of electricity. Ohms are the measurement of resistance to the flow of electrons through a conductive material.

The higher the resistance, the lower the flow of electrons. This resistance causes a certain amount of heat to be generated in the circuit. The reason that a hairdryer blows hot air, for example, is because of resistance in the internal wiring, which produces heat. And it is resistance in the tiny wires of an incandescent light bulb that causes it to heat up and glow with light. It is also resistance that can overheat an extension cord if it is used on an appliance that draws too much current.

In circuit wiring, too much resistance can overload a circuit and cause an electrical fire. Because bad connections caused by things like loose screw terminals and corrosion are likely culprits, electrical connections should be checked regularly to ensure safety in an electrical system.

If you have any concerns about your electric work or want to be proactive about safety, consider hiring a professional to do a routine check. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads.