Basic Electrical Theory ELECTRICAL TERMINOLOGYFigure 9 Electron Flow Through a Copper Wire with a Potential DifferenceThe direction of electron flow, shown in Figure 10, is from the negative (-) side of the battery,through the wire, and back to the positive (+) side of the battery. The direction of electron flowis from a point of negative potential to a point of positive potential. The solid arrow shown inFigure 10 indicates the direction of electron flow. As electrons vacate their atoms during electroncurrent flow, positively charged atoms (holes) result. The flow of electrons in one directioncauses a flow of positive charges. The direction of the positive charges is in the oppositedirection of the electron flow. This flow of positive charges is known as conventional currentand is shown in Figure 10 as a dashed arrow. All of the electrical effects of electron flow fromnegative to positive, or from a higher potential to a lower potential, are the same as those thatwould be created by a flow of positive charges in the opposite direction. Therefore, it isimportant to realize that both conventions are in use and that they are essentially equivalent; thatis, all effects predicted are the same. In this text, we will be using electron flow in ourdiscussions.Figure 10 Potential Difference Across a Conductor Causes a Current to FlowRev. 0 Page 11 ES-01
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