Electrons move in opposite direction of current?

AI Thread Summary
Electrons move in the opposite direction to the conventional current and electric field due to historical conventions established in early electrical theory. This confusion arises because conventional current assumes positive charge flow, while electrons are negatively charged and move in the opposite direction. Understanding electricity through conventional current flow is often simpler for beginners, despite the reality of electron flow. The discussion emphasizes that grasping these concepts may not require deep understanding, as the conventions are primarily for practical application. Ultimately, the distinction between electron flow and conventional current is a foundational aspect of electrical theory.
oneplusone
Messages
127
Reaction score
2
I was looking at a few circuit diagrams, and it seems like electrons move in the opposite direction as the electric field and current . Why is this? I don't really understand the intuition behind it.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
urgent_mission.png
http://xkcd.com/567/
 
Thanks. I understand now.
 
The only thing to understand is: there is nothing to understand :wink:
 
If you can't 'understand' Electricity based on conventional current flow then you will definitely not 'understand' the whole thing when it's been 'explained' using electron flow as a basis.
 

Thread 'How to picture the vector potential?'

Susskind (in The Theoretical Minimum, volume 1, pages 203-205) writes the Lagrangian for the magnetic field as ##L=\frac m 2(\dot x^2+\dot y^2 + \dot z^2)+ \frac e c (\dot x A_x +\dot y A_y +\dot z A_z)## and then calculates ##\dot p_x =ma_x + \frac e c \frac d {dt} A_x=ma_x + \frac e c(\frac {\partial A_x} {\partial x}\dot x + \frac {\partial A_x} {\partial y}\dot y + \frac {\partial A_x} {\partial z}\dot z)##. I have problems with the last step. I might have written ##\frac {dA_x} {dt}...
View full post »
Thread 'Griffith, Electrodynamics, 4th Edition, Example 4.8. (Second part)'

Thread 'Griffith, Electrodynamics, 4th Edition, Example 4.8. (Second part)'

I am reading the Griffith, Electrodynamics book, 4th edition, Example 4.8. I want to understand some issues more correctly. It's a little bit difficult to understand now. > Example 4.8. Suppose the entire region below the plane ##z=0## in Fig. 4.28 is filled with uniform linear dielectric material of susceptibility ##\chi_e##. Calculate the force on a point charge ##q## situated a distance ##d## above the origin. In the page 196, in the first paragraph, the author argues as follows ...
View full post »

Similar threads

I Do electric currents depend on the frame of reference?
Replies
5
Views
1K
I Hall effect -- is it always applicable?
Replies
7
Views
2K
I Charge movement relative to magnetic field frame dependence/invariance
Replies
5
Views
970
I Reason for Opposite Signs for Terms in Faraday's Law and Ampere's Law
Replies
15
Views
2K
B Coil that conducts direct current
Replies
8
Views
925
I How induction works within a coil (nuances of it)
Replies
6
Views
2K
How can electrons flow all the way through the circuit?
Replies
21
Views
3K
I Does current decrease inside a wire or does it increase it's velocity?
Replies
8
Views
2K
If an electron is repelled by another electron how do we get current?
Replies
18
Views
2K
I What causes skin effect in AC currents?
Replies
2
Views
1K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top