Questions: Question 15
4 points
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Suppose current is flowing in a wire from right to left. Which way do the electrons in the wire move?
right to left
left to right
in circles
It is impossible to tell.
Transcript text: Question 15
4 points
Save Answer
Suppose current is flowing in a wire from right to left. Which way do the electrons in the wire move?
right to left
left to right
in circles
It is impossible to tell.
Solution
Solution Steps
Step 1: Understanding the Direction of Current Flow
In electrical circuits, the conventional current flow is defined as the flow of positive charge from the positive terminal to the negative terminal. However, in metallic conductors, the actual charge carriers are electrons, which are negatively charged.
Step 2: Determining the Direction of Electron Flow
Since electrons are negatively charged, they move in the opposite direction to the conventional current flow. Therefore, if the current is flowing from right to left, the electrons will move from left to right.
Final Answer
The electrons in the wire move \(\boxed{\text{left to right}}\).