Current flowing in a battery is null?

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    Battery Current
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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of current in a battery, particularly questioning the flow of electrons and the implications of a battery's voltage in a circuit without energy storage elements.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the movement of electrons in relation to the battery's terminals and question the conditions under which current may be considered zero. There are attempts to clarify the nature of electric fields and the implications of battery voltage in a circuit.

Discussion Status

There is an active exploration of the original poster's question, with some participants suggesting that the current in the battery is zero and prompting further inquiry into the reasoning behind this assertion. Multiple interpretations of the situation are being discussed, and some guidance has been offered without reaching a consensus.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the absence of energy storage elements in the circuit and the potential confusion arising from different interpretations of the battery's behavior shortly after connection.

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Homework Statement
Potential difference between A and B. I just have a doubt. Is the current flowing in the 4V battery null? Yes or not? Why?
Relevant Equations
U= RI
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Imagine that you are an electron leaving the - side of the battery. How would you get to the + side?
 
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It depends whether this is very shortly after connecting up. If not, see @DaveE's response.
 
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haruspex said:
It depends whether this is very shortly after connecting up. If not, see @DaveE's response.
Very shortly, considering there aren't any energy storage elements in the circuit.

I'd bet $100 this is is a DC analysis problem. In which case your response is confusing to the student. Not necessarily wrong, but probably not helpful.
 
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DaveE said:
Imagine that you are an electron leaving the - side of the battery. How would you get to the + side?
You wouldn't. The electrons all go from the + side to the - side.
(I am probably being petty but ...).

And BTW the answer is the non-conservative electric field set up by the emf of the battery which points from - to + and cancels the conservative E field set up by the charge migration which points from + to -.
 
Last edited:
rude man said:
The electrons all go from the + side to the - side.
Again, not helpful to the OP.

edit: Oh, yea, also wrong. Electrons have negative charge and are not attracted to the (relatively) negative potential at the - side. [Curse you, Ben Franklin!]
 
Actually, we all missed the OP's point and question.
The current in the 4V battery is indeed zero.
Hint: can you find a loop including the 4V battery?
 
rude man said:
Actually, we all missed the OP's point and question.
The current in the 4V abttery is indeed zero.
Not all of us. We also didn't give the answer away without dialog or dealing with the question "Why?".
 

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