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Difficulty: MediumElectrical Current and Electron Flow

In an operating direct-current (DC) circuit, conventional current is defined as moving from the positive terminal to the negative terminal through the external circuit, which is opposite to the physical drift direction of electrons.

Answer: Answer

Answer

True: Conventional current flows from positive to negative in the external circuit, while electron flow moves from negative to positive.
The statement is true because standard electrical convention defines current as positive charge moving from positive to negative, whereas atomic theory proves that negative electrons physically flow from negative to positive in the external circuit.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the historical definition of conventional current flow.
Conventional current assumes positive charge movement from the positive terminal (+) through the external circuit to the negative terminal (-).
Benjamin Franklin and early physicists established current flow under the convention that positive charges were the moving carriers.
2
Identify the physical direction of electron flow in solid conductors.
Electrons carry a negative charge and travel from the negative terminal (-) through the external circuit toward the positive terminal (+).
Electrostatic laws state that like charges repel and opposite charges attract; hence, negative electrons are repelled by the negative battery terminal.
3
Compare the two flow directions to evaluate the statement.
Conventional current and electron flow describe opposite directions through the external circuit.
Since the statement accurately defines both directions as being opposite to one another, the statement is true.

Key Concept

Directional distinction between conventional current and electron flow in DC circuits
Estimated Time:40s
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Topics

Electrical Current and Electron Flow

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