Direction Of Current Flow

Direction Of Current Flow

The free electrons in metallic conductors are in continuous random motion. The current in a conductor will not be established unless an electric field is applied.

Direction Of Current Flow

In the presence of an applied electric field, the electrons move from lower potential to higher potential i.e from the negative terminal of the battery to the positive terminal. The current thus generated is called electronic current.

The direction of such a current flow is against the convention. So the direction of current in a circuit is from higher potential to the lower potential i.e from the terminal of the battery to the negative terminal.

For all potential purposes, the direction of current flow will be conventional.

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