While diagnosing a control circuit in an industrial machine, a technician measures the flow of electric current through a closed direct-current (DC) loop. Which statement accurately describes the relationship between the electrical current and charge carriers in this circuit?
- AElectric current is the electromotive pressure maintained across terminals that exists even when no physical charge is in motion.
- Electric current is the continuous rate of charge transfer through the conductor, produced by free electrons drifting toward the positive potential.Answer
- CElectric current in this DC circuit continuously reverses direction back and forth through the load at a standard cyclic frequency.
- DElectric current is the movement of bound atomic charges traveling exclusively along the outer protective insulating sheath.
Answer
Electric current is the continuous rate of charge transfer through the conductor, produced by free electrons drifting toward the positive potential.
Electric current is defined as the rate at which charge passes through a cross-section of a conductor (). In standard solid conductors under direct current (DC), the charge carriers are mobile valence electrons that drift unidirectionally toward the positive terminal of the circuit.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Electric current is the time rate of charge flow through a conductor, with electrons physically moving toward the positive terminal in a DC circuit.
Estimated Time:45s