Electrical current and electrons

[Elsa1234]

Electrons flow from negative to positive. But everything in nature moves from higher potential to lower potential, i.e the charges should move from positive to negative but they don't?

 

[Geofleur]

Potential is different from potential energy. To get the potential energy, you have to multiply the potential by the charge. Positive charges tend to move from high to low potential, but negative charges tend to move from low to high. Also, even regarding potential energy, nothing says that objects have to move toward lower potential energies. If I throw a rock upward, it moves to higher gravitational potential energies (at least for a bit).

 

[nasu]

Electrons flow from negative to positive. But everything in nature moves from higher potential to lower potential, i.e the charges should move from positive to negative but they don't?

Look up again the definition of potential. You will see that is defined by using a positive charge as probe. So "low" and "high" potential according to standard definition are valid for a positive charge. If we use a negative charge, the low and high will change places. But rather than doing this re-definition we say that negative charges move from low to high potential.

 

[mathman]

Be aware that "negative" and "positive" definitions are a historical accident. They could just as well have been the other way around. All physics says is they are opposite.

 

[sophiecentaur]

objects have to move toward lower potential energies.

Quite true. Electrons 'fall down' to the positive terminal (opposite sign) and their potential energy reduces. If, originally, early electrical Science had chosen a different sign for the charges, when electrons were found. they would have been given a Positive charge and this particular problem would not have presented itself to students. OTOH, the important principle that's involved, could have passed them by without them noticing.

 

[Elsa1234]

Thank You , It's quite clear now!