Electronics - Voltage and Current - Discussion

A flow of positive charge gives the same electric current as an opposite flow of negative charge. Thus, opposite flows of opposite charges contribute to a single electric current. For this reason, the polarity of the flowing charges can usually be ignored during measurements. All the flowing charges are assumed to have positive polarity, and this flow is called Conventional current.

In solid metals such as wires, the positive charge carriers are immobile, and only the negatively charged electrons flow. Because the electron carries negative charge, the electron motion in a metal is in the direction opposite to that of conventional (or electric) current. In many other conductive materials, the electric current is due to the flow of both positively and negatively charged particles at the same time. In still others, the current is entirely due to positive charge flow. For example, the electric currents in electrolytes are flows of electrically charged atoms(ions) , which exist in both positive and negative varieties. In a common lead-acid electrochemical cell, electric currents are composed of positive hydrogen ions(protons) flowing in one direction, and negative sulfate ions flowing in the other.

Electric currents in sparks or plasma are flows of electrons as well as positive and negative ions. In ice and in certain solid Electrolytes, the electric current is entirely composed of flowing protons. For conceptual simplicity, Conventional current is used to conceal these issues by summing the various currents together into a single value.

There are also materials where the electric current is due to the flow of electrons, and yet it is conceptually easier to think of the current as due to the flow of positive "holes" (the spots that should have an electron to make the conductor neutral). This is the case in a p-type semiconductor.

Guys its just simple listen. Assume a simple circuit with a battery connected to a small bulb (load). As everyone know we connect +ve terminal to one side and the -ve to other side. We know that in a battery charge stored in cathode starts moving towards anode. So what we do is we connect battery +ve and and battery -ve with a wire btw the wire we have a load (bulb) the load utilises as much charge it wants and it glows.

The charge will be flowing from cathode to anode (since +v and -v attracts) meanwhile the load connected in between utilises the charge to glow. This is what happens when we explain the circuit. The charge (electron) flow here called conventional current (it is assumed just to explain the circuit). But actually current direction is from -ve to +ve because electron is -ve charge and its obvious it is attracted to +ve. So current always flows from -ve to positive.

Since the circuit analysis were made 100 years ago at that time scientist actually thought electricity was some kind of invisible fluid which flows of higher region to lower region just like water (so they gave higher region as +ve and lower region as -ve) but later it was discovered that electrons flows from -ve to +ve. So finally the thing is current direction is -ve to +v but while analysing circuit we say its +v to -v and hence the conventional current. I hope everyone are clear now.

Conventional Current assumes that current flows out of the positive terminal, through the circuit and into the negative terminal of the source. This was the convention chosen during the discovery of electricity. They were wrong!

Electron Flow is what actually happens and electrons flow out of the negative terminal, through the circuit and into the positive terminal of the source.

Both Conventional Current and Electron Flow are used by industry. Many textbooks are available in both Electron Flow and Conventional Current formats.

In fact, it makes no difference which way current is flowing as long as it is used consistently. The direction of current flow does not affect what the current does.

In general, two year technical programs and highschool Physics use Electron Flow.

But three year technician and university engineering programs still use Conventional Current. Certain symbols (ex. diodes and transistors) and rules (ex. Right hand rules for electromagnets) were created using Conventional Current. Changing from Conventional Current to Electron Flow would cause a degree of confusion for old and new students and errors would occur, so Conventional Current was kept to ensure there was no confusion.

Throughout this course, Conventional Current is used. Therefore always assume current flows out of the positive terminal of the source.

Conventional Flow is considered at first before they discovered that the electrons are actually the ones moving from the negative to the positive side. Technically it is still the same and is useable for any kinds of circuits, it just depends on the perspective of the person looking at the circuit if he/she wants to use a conventional flow or current flow. But according to history, the first thought of people was the conventional flow so it came first that's why C is correct.

Also, protons cannot flow since they are located in the nucleus of an atom. Only electrons can be dislodged and flow in the form of a current.

Whatever we studied in B-Tech we always talking about current like what is the direction of current, where current is flowing etc. We all are habitual to talking like this that the "flow of current". But fact is that current never flows it is the electron which flows and some new school students are teaching in this way they don't use current flow. They use where electron is flowing, what is the direction of electron flow. This is the modern approch and came later. Thats why answer is C.

According to the law of conservation of energy.

Energy always flows from higher to lower so in electrical circuit current is shown from positive terminal of the source to the negative terminal which is called as conventional current.

But actually, in circuits ELECTRONS are moving from negative terminal to positive terminal which is called electron current.

We can agree with that they might find conventional current first in history so it can be the answer.

Direction in which an electric current is considered to flow in a circuit. By convention, the direction is that in which positive-charge carriers would flow - from the positive terminal of a cell to its negative terminal. It is opposite in direction to the flow of electrons. In circuit diagrams, the arrows shown on symbols for components such as diodes and transistors point in the direction of conventional current flow.

Yes @manikanta my explanation is very near to you.

coventional current= protan flow
electron current = electron flow

Electron weight is about 1/1800th weight of proton's weight.
so electron flow will be faster than the protons flow.

and the present elctronic era is considering only electronic corrent...
So my answer is electronic current comes first..
Answer should be "a"

Conventional current flow refers to a flow of positive charges. It is a kind of ficticious current. If - as is often the case - the real current is an electron flow (negative charges) , then the conventional flow is a current in the opposite direction as the electron movements, since this would have the same effect (for example on the magnetic field, or on conservation of charge).

Conventional: Proton will have excess +ve charge, so charges will flow from +ve to -ve.

Electron flow: Electron will have excess -ve electron so, -ve charges will flow from -ve to +ve.

Both concepts are about current flow but in the different or opposite directions.

I think the scientist found the conventional current flow, that's why ANSWER is conventional current came first.