[Amps] "Conventional" current flow

[Al Kozakiewicz]

This is one of those subjects that is probably pointless to comment on. 

Current is the flow of charges, not particles.  Charges are carried by particles such as electrons (negative) or ions (positive), but the particle itself is not the charge.  Charges aren't a physical object that has mass or occupies space. Just like gravity - it can be measured and its effects observed and felt, but you can't point to a gravity object.

In the case of electrons it is most definitely NOT like a river. The molecule of H2O that originates in the mountain is the same molecule that ends up in the ocean. The electron that starts a  current flow in one end of a wire is NOT the same electron that exits the wire at the other end.  Actual electrons drift about the conducting medium at rate of something like 1 meter per hour. On the other hand the charge is propagated at near the speed of light. Negative charges flow one way; positive the other. 

It adds nothing to the understanding and application of electric circuits to change the convention for current flow.

Al
AB2ZY


-----Original Message-----
From: Amps [mailto:amps-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Bill Turner
Sent: Friday, December 02, 2016 12:04 AM
To: Amps group
Subject: Re: [Amps] "Conventional" current flow

------------ ORIGINAL MESSAGE ------------(may be snipped)

On Wed, 16 Nov 2016 22:16:50 -0700, Jim wrote:

> The current flow, which is in the reverse direction, isn't a real 
> substance. I

REPLY:

Nonsense. Electric current is just as real as current in a river and rivers don't flow uphill. 

River current is the flow of water molecules, electric current is the flow of electrons. Why are you making it so difficult? 

73, Bill W6WRT
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