Electricity Poll: which way were you taught?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter zoobyshoe
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Electricity Poll
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion centers on the differing conventions taught regarding the flow of electricity, specifically whether current flows from positive to negative or vice versa. Participants from various countries, including the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands, shared their educational experiences, noting that military tech schools often teach electron flow (negative to positive), while many colleges emphasize conventional current (positive to negative). The conversation highlights the historical context and confusion surrounding these concepts, particularly the impact of Benjamin Franklin's original terminology.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic electrical concepts, including current and electron flow
  • Familiarity with the terminology of conventional current vs. electron flow
  • Knowledge of historical context in physics education
  • Awareness of educational differences across countries
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the historical development of electrical terminology and conventions
  • Explore the differences between conventional current and electron flow in practical applications
  • Learn about the impact of Benjamin Franklin's contributions to electrical science
  • Investigate how different educational systems approach teaching electricity
USEFUL FOR

Students, educators, and professionals in physics and electrical engineering who seek to clarify the concepts of current flow and the historical context of electrical education.

In What Direction Were You Taught Electricity Flows?

  • Negative to Positive

    Votes: 17 45.9%

  • Positive to Negative

    Votes: 20 54.1%
  • Total voters
    37
  • #31
Pythagorean said:
pardon my reluctance to laugh, the charge wasn't moving enough for me.
Watt? You're just being negative. That's no way to conduct yourself. You have more potential.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #32
zoobyshoe said:
Watt? You're just being negative. That's no way to conduct yourself. You have more potential.

I have my domains conflicted! I can't help it. I'm becoming hysteresical!
 
  • #33
Pythagorean said:
I have my domains conflicted! I can't help it. I'm becoming hysteresical!
Galvanize your will, transform your attitude, and ground yourself in reality!
 
  • #34
:approve:
zoobyshoe said:
Watt? You're just being negative. That's no way to conduct yourself. You have more potential.
 
  • #35
Ohm I god, I'm positive we were taught both ways and alternated.
 
  • #36
The real question is, do you use ohms or mhos?

Reminds me of an old joke I just made up. Have you ever heard an electrical engineer meditating? "Ohhhhhhhm, Ohhhhhhhm, Ohhhhhhhm..."
 
  • #37
The thread has a massive capacity farad lot of trolling.
 
  • #38
rollcast said:
The thread has a massive capacity farad lot of trolling.

We'll oppose a resistance to being rectified.
 
  • #39
Ivan Seeking said:
The real question is, do you use ohms or mhos?

Reminds me of an old joke I just made up. Have you ever heard an electrical engineer meditating? "Ohhhhhhhm, Ohhhhhhhm, Ohhhhhhhm..."

mhos = Siemens = 1/ohm
 
  • #40
I believe we have a new induction into the "classic thread" forum.

It might even happen automatically, through self-inductance.
 
Last edited:
  • #41
I feel everyone is so charged up with troll energy here.
Maybe we just need a bit of time to Coulomb down a bit.
 
  • #42
Chi Meson said:
I like to point out that it's all Ben Franklin's fault for calling the glass rod "Positive."

Absolutely. Battery terminals should be labelled Affirmative and Negative IMO.
 
  • #43
please calculate the charge/mass ratio of an affirmatron...
 
  • #44
rollcast said:
I feel everyone is so charged up with troll energy here.
Maybe we just need a bit of time to Coulomb down a bit.

Yeah, I don't want any static!

[Note: this should only be considered a potential joke]
 
Last edited:
  • #45
The whole thread has me polarized.

I remember waaaay back that it was necessary to polarize the generator on a positive grounded vehicle whenever the generator or voltage regulator was replaced.

The old mechanic who taught me how to do it said it was necessary in order to get the current worms moving in the right direction.:wink:
 
  • #46
Chi Meson said:
I teach students simultaneously that "current" is from + to - , while electrons (which are the only things flowing in solid conductors) drift from - to + .

I like to point out that it's all Ben Franklin's fault for calling the glass rod "Positive."

(I want to go back in time so I could ask "Are you sure?"

and he would reply

"Yes, positive.")

Yet nevertheless, franklin, he was in lightning.
 
  • #47
edward said:
The whole thread has me polarized.

I remember waaaay back that it was necessary to polarize the generator on a positive grounded vehicle whenever the generator or voltage regulator was replaced.

The old mechanic who taught me how to do it said it was necessary in order to get the current worms moving in the right direction.:wink:
That brings back memories when I was way young.
 
  • #48
Chi Meson said:
I believe we have a new induction into the "classic thread" forum.

It might even happen automatically, through self-inductance.
rollcast said:
I feel everyone is so charged up with troll energy here.
Maybe we just need a bit of time to Coulomb down a bit.
Yes, I'm amazed so many are electrified by the current trend in humor.
 
  • #49
zoobyshoe said:
Yes, I'm amazed so many are electrified by the current trend in humor.

And we have done it all with no shorts.
 
  • #50
I don't believe in shorts, just heating elements.
 
  • #51
edward said:
And we have done it all with no shorts.
If that's a circuitous way of saying you post naked then, paradoxically, those who post well insulated are the same ones who have the most shorts.
 
  • #52
zoobyshoe said:
If that's a circuitous way of saying you post naked then, paradoxically, those who post well insulated are the same ones who have the most shorts.

:smile:
 
  • #53
OOps I had a close call with continuity on that last phase.
 
  • #54
I was immediately told both sides at the same time. Basically, I was told that electrons move from negative to positive; but because of the unfortunate convention, an electron is like a ''negative unit'' of current, so current goes from positive to negative.

I don't see how it can be taught in any other way without misleading people.
 
  • #55
UK. -ve to +ve.
 
  • #56
In high school I also learned how long it took for the electrons to move from the light switch to the light bulb, like other people in the thread.
 
  • #57
Monique said:
In high school I also learned how long it took for the electrons to move from the light switch to the light bulb, like other people in the thread.

Don't the lights in most people's houses run on AC?
 

Similar threads

Confused about direction of electric field
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • Poll Poll
(Physicists only): What area of physics do you specialize in
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
4K
Effects of LLMs on math learning, self taught or otherwise
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
870
Graduate Could the Laws of Physics Be Proportional to Entropy?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
702
  • Poll Poll
How ugly is your physics department?
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
4K
Undergrad Is the Poynting Vector Field the Only Factor in Energy Flow in Circuits?
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
4K
What is the bare minimum necessary to "get" quantum mechanics?
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
3K
High School What Exactly is Conceptual Physics?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Extension resource for advanced high school / pre-university students
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Double majoring in electrical engineering and physics
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
5K