or electric cell simply creates potential difference across the conductor. . ELECTRIC CURRENT Matter is made up of atoms. Each atom consists of a positively charged nucleus with negatively charged electrons moving around the nucleus.
Atoms in metals have one or more electrons which are loosely bound to the nucleus. These electrons are called free electrons and can be easily detached from the atoms. The substances which have an abundance of these free electrons are called conductors. These free electrons move randomly throughout the conductor at a given temperature.
In general due to this random motion, there is no net transfer of charges from one end of the Figure . Water current and Electric current Equal potential No water flow Higher potential Lower potential Flow of water (a) Equal gravitational potential- No water flow (b) Water flows from higher gravitational potential to lower gravitational potential Copper wire End A and B are at same electric potential. Hence no current A is at higher electric potential than B. So current flows from A to B A is at higher electric t ti l th B S (c) (d) 12th - 12th - - - - - Unit CURRENT ELECTRICITY EXAMPLE .
Compute the current in the wire if a charge of C is flowing through a copper wire in minute. Solution The current (rate of flow of charge) in the wire is t 2A . . Conventional Current Figure .
Direction of conventional current and electron flow Direction of current Flow of electrons In an electric circuit, arrow heads are used to indicate the direction of flow of current. By convention, this flow in the circuit should be from the positive terminal of the battery to the negative terminal. This current is called the conventional current or simply current and is in the direction in which a positive test charge would move. In typical circuits the charges that flow are actually electrons, from the negative terminal of the battery to the positive terminal.
As a result, the flow of electrons