What determines the direction of current flow?

The direction of an electric current is by convention the direction in which a positive charge would move. Thus, the current in the external circuit is directed away from the positive terminal and toward the negative terminal of the battery. Electrons would actually move through the wires in the opposite direction.

How does current flow in a battery?

During the discharge of a battery, the current in the circuit flows from the positive to the negative electrode. According to Ohm’s law, this means that the current is proportional to the electric field, which says that current flows from a positive to negative electric potential.

How does electrical current change direction?

Alternating current (AC) is an electric current which periodically reverses direction and changes its magnitude continuously with time in contrast to direct current (DC) which flows only in one direction.

What causes the current to flow in a circuit?

An electric current flows when electrons move through a conductor, such as a metal wire. The moving electrons can collide with the ions in the metal. When resistance is increased in a circuit , for example by adding more electrical components , the current decreases as a result.

How can you determine the direction of conventional current?

The direction of the conventional current is from positive to the negative termianl of the battery. Where as the electrons flow from the negative terminal of the battery to the positive terminal of the battery which is exactly opposite to the conventional direction.

How does current flow in a cell?

Electrons move from negative terminal of the cell to positive so conventionally it is said that current flows from positive terminal to negative terminal of the cell.

What are the factors that control or regulate the current through an electric circuit?

The potential difference across the ends and the resistance of the material regulate the current in an electric circuit.

What is the conventional flow of current in a circuit?

Conventional current is the flow of a positive charge from positive to negative and is the reverse of real electron flow.

What is the direction of current flow in a circuit?

This is the direction of the actual current flow. In terms of circuit analysis, we normally consider the direction of electric current from positive to negative. Mathematically, negative charge flowing in one direction is equivalent to positive charges flowing in the opposite direction. Hence it does not make a difference.

What is the direction of electric current from positive to negative?

In terms of circuit analysis, we normally consider the direction of electric current from positive to negative. Mathematically, negative charge flowing in one direction is equivalent to positive charges flowing in the opposite direction. Hence it does not make a difference. One can either consider the flow of current from positive to negative

Why is the current at the top and bottom of circuit?

Basically, the current has to be the same at the top and the bottom of any circuit, because current can’t “leak out”. If the circuit branches (as in parallel circuits), you can add up the current in the branches and the total has to be the same as the total current at the top or bottom of the circuit.

What type of current flows through the wires in houses?

Most of the electric current that flows through the wires in houses, schools, and other buildings. Electric current flows out of one wire, through the appliance, into the other wire, and back to the power source to complete the circuit.