Question
In which way do electrons flow in a circuit? From the positive terminal to the negative terminal From the negative terminal to the negative terminal From the negative terminal to the positive terminal From the positive terminal to the positive terminal
Answer
4.2
(251 Votes)
Xenia
Veteran · Tutor for 11 years
Answer
Electrons flow in a circuit from the negative terminal to the positive terminal.
Explanation
When asked about the direction of electrical flow, many people might automatically think of a positive charge moving in a direction from positive to negative. This is conceptually known as conventional current. However, upon the discovery of electrons which are negatively charged, it was found that while the electrical "effect" moves from positive to negative, the actual electrons flow in the reverse i.e. from the negative terminal to the positive terminal. This is because being negatively charged, electrons are repelled by the negative terminal of the power source and attracted to the positive terminal. Therefore, electrons flow in a circuit from the negative terminal to the positive terminal.