Conventional current vs current?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concepts of conventional current and actual current, particularly in the context of electrical circuits and the flow of charge carriers. Participants explore the definitions, implications, and confusions surrounding these terms, focusing on the nature of charge flow in conductors and the conventions used in electrical engineering.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express confusion about the distinction between current as the flow of electrons and conventional current as the flow of positive charge.
  • It is noted that conventional current is defined as the flow of positive charge, even though in most conductors, it is actually the negatively charged electrons that flow.
  • One participant suggests that conventional current and actual current could be seen as antonyms, while others argue that they can coincide under certain conditions.
  • There is a discussion about the flow of conventional current in metals with delocalized electrons, questioning whether it is still considered to be the positive charge flowing.
  • Another participant clarifies that conventional current is treated as the flow of positive charges in the opposite direction of the flow of negative charges.
  • One post emphasizes that the direction of current is defined from high potential to low potential for convenience, distinguishing between conventional current and electron flow.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether conventional current and actual current are antonyms, with some asserting they can coincide while others maintain they are distinct concepts. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of these definitions in practical scenarios.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the assumptions made about charge carriers and the definitions of current, which may depend on the context of the materials being discussed. The relationship between conventional current and electron flow is not fully resolved.

jamesfirst
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I was always taught that current was the flow of electrons, a direction which negatively charged particles flow

but now we started to talk about conventional current where the positive particles are flowing..

I'm so confused... what specific positive charge is flowing?? and how come people believe that it's the positive charge that is determined to be the current??
 
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jamesfirst said:
I was always taught that current was the flow of electrons, a direction which negatively charged particles flow

but now we started to talk about conventional current where the positive particles are flowing..

I'm so confused... what specific positive charge is flowing?? and how come people believe that it's the positive charge that is determined to be the current??
In conventional wires, it is always the negative electrons which flow. However, it is possible to have a current composed of positively flowing particles. A problem arises since a flow of positive charge in one direction yields the same current as an equal flow of negative charge in the opposite direction. Therefore, the so called conventional current was introduced. so, by convention we always take the direction of current flow as if it is a flow of positive charges. That does not mean, however, that positive charges are actually flowing.

Does that make sense?
 
So conventional current and current is basically antonyms to one another ?
 
Usually, when talking about circuits, word "current" means conventional current. The word "conventional" is just tacked on so that you wouldn't confuse it with a particle current, which does end up having opposite direction in conductors.
 
jamesfirst said:
So conventional current and current is basically antonyms to one another ?
No, they are not. As I said, it is perfectly possible to have a current composed of positive charges. In which case, the direction of conventional current and 'real' current coincide.
 
So what about when conventional current flows through metals which has delocalised electrons??

Is it still considered to be the positive charge following ?
 
jamesfirst said:
So what about when conventional current flows through metals which has delocalised electrons??

Is it still considered to be the positive charge following ?
In conventional current, yes. The positive charges are consider to be flowing in the opposite direction of the negative charge.
 
rate of flow of electron is known as current.direction of current from high potential to low potential is taken as positive direction for the conviniency . so current in this direction is termed as conventional current and the direction of flow of electron is termed as electronic current.
 

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