Introduction
Electric current is one of the fundamental concepts in electrical and electronic engineering disciplines. Any device or machinery that requires electricity for its operation is a result of the flow of current in a closed circuit.
The direction of current flow is a common misconception among electronics students with the movement of electrons taking place from the negative to the positive terminal whereas the conventional current direction is from the positive to negative terminal. Both current directions are correct because they describe electricity in different aspects.
Electric current is the flow of electric charge in a closed circuit resulting from the movement of electrons. In metallic conductors such as copper wire electricity flows in the form of electrons.
The formula for calculating electric current is:
I= Q/t
Where: I is the current in Amperes,
Q is the quantity of charge measured in Coulombs,
t is the time taken for charge to flow in seconds.
For current to flow, three basic conditions must be met:
When the circuit is complete the voltage from the source creates a field inside the conductor. This electric field pushes the electrons making them move and create electric current.
In metallic conductors, electrons are charge carriers and therefore electricity flows from the negative terminal to the positive terminal.
Before the discovery of electrons by scientists electricity was assumed to flow from the positive terminal to the negative terminal in primary cells. This direction of conventional current is used to describe how electrons ideally should flow within circuits.
Negative terminal → Positive terminal
Positive terminal → Negative terminal
The flow of electrons takes place from the negative terminal to the positive terminal of the battery whereas conventional current is opposite to the direction of electron flow.
A higher voltage provides a stronger electrical force allowing more current to flow through the circuit.
Resistance opposes the movement of current. Materials with high resistance allow less current to pass.
Copper, silver and aluminum are excellent conductors because they have many free electrons available for conduction.
As temperature increases, the resistance of most metallic conductors also increases, reducing the amount of current flowing through them.
Electricity flows differently in different materials. Metals carry electricity through free electrons but electrolytes conduct electricity through ions. On the other hand, semiconductors allow the flow of current through the movement of free electrons and holes to fill empty spaces.
The direction of current is a vital concept in electrical and electronics engineering which describes the nature of electricity. In reality electrons flow from one terminal to another but still make use of conventional current.
Whether one is working on simple domestic electrical devices or operating industrial electronics, the concept of current flow direction is critical to how engineers interpret circuit diagrams and perform electrical operations. Having a clear understanding of the topic is crucial in developing a clear understanding of electrical and electronics engineering principles. The knowledge of electricity flow direction is essential in running and interpreting electrical circuits correctly.
Electron flow is the movement of electrons from the negative terminal to the positive terminal whereas conventional current is the direction that describes how electrons ideally should flow.
Electrical engineering adopts conventional current to describe how current is supposed to flow during calculations and designs. The direction is also useful in determining how electricity flows within circuit diagrams internationally.
A closed circuit means there is a continuous path for electricity to flow from the supply source to the load. The current flows through the conducting wires as opposed to an open circuit where electricity cannot flow due to discontinuity of the wire.
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