What is electron flow?
1 Answer
Electron flow refers to the movement of electrons through a conductive material, such as a wire or a circuit. Electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles that are a fundamental component of atoms. In many electrical systems and electronic devices, the movement of electrons is what enables the flow of electric current.
Conventional current flow, the historical convention, assumes that current flows from positive to negative. This was established before the understanding of electron behavior. However, in reality, electrons themselves move from a region of higher potential (negative) to a region of lower potential (positive). This means that the actual electron flow is opposite to the direction of conventional current flow.
In summary, electron flow is the movement of electrons through a conductor in response to an electric potential difference, leading to the generation of electric current.
Conventional current flow, the historical convention, assumes that current flows from positive to negative. This was established before the understanding of electron behavior. However, in reality, electrons themselves move from a region of higher potential (negative) to a region of lower potential (positive). This means that the actual electron flow is opposite to the direction of conventional current flow.
In summary, electron flow is the movement of electrons through a conductor in response to an electric potential difference, leading to the generation of electric current.