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Electric current always flows from high potential to low potential. This creates the flow of electric current in an electric circuit.

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In a metal conductor, current is defined as a drift of free electrons. As electrons are negatively charged, this means that current drifts along a conductor from a negative potential to a positive potential.

However....

Current direction is often defined as a drift from a positive potential to a negative potential. This is termed 'conventional flow', and dates back to when scientists, such as Benjamin Franklin, believed that current was some sort of fluid that flowed from a higher pressure ('positive' pressure) to a lower pressure ('negative' pressure). Although incorrect, conventional flow is still widely-used today in many textbooks.

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What is the relationship between the potential difference and the motion of a charged particle in a uniform electric field?

The potential difference in a uniform electric field affects the motion of a charged particle by determining the direction and speed of its movement. The greater the potential difference, the stronger the force on the charged particle, leading to faster motion in the direction of the field.


What is the relationship between voltage and electric potential energy difference?

Voltage is a measure of the electric potential energy difference between two points in an electric field. The greater the voltage, the greater the electric potential energy difference between the two points.


What is the relationship between the electric field between two plates and the potential difference across them?

The electric field between two plates is directly proportional to the potential difference across them. This relationship is described by the equation E V/d, where E is the electric field, V is the potential difference, and d is the distance between the plates.


What is the relationship between electric potential and electric field in a given system?

In a given system, the electric potential is directly related to the electric field. The electric field is the rate of change of electric potential with respect to distance. In other words, the electric field points in the direction of decreasing potential.


What is the relationship between voltage (e), electric potential difference (v), and distance (d) in an electric field?

In an electric field, the relationship between voltage (e), electric potential difference (v), and distance (d) is described by the equation v e d. This means that the electric potential difference (v) between two points in an electric field is equal to the product of the electric field strength (e) and the distance (d) between the points.

Related Questions

What is the relationship between the potential difference and the motion of a charged particle in a uniform electric field?

The potential difference in a uniform electric field affects the motion of a charged particle by determining the direction and speed of its movement. The greater the potential difference, the stronger the force on the charged particle, leading to faster motion in the direction of the field.


What is the relationship between voltage and electric potential energy difference?

Voltage is a measure of the electric potential energy difference between two points in an electric field. The greater the voltage, the greater the electric potential energy difference between the two points.


What determines the direction of Electric?

The potential difference. The electrons flows from a lower potential to a higher potential. The electric current flows in the opposite direction. The electric field's direction is always from a higher potential to a lower potential. Its kind of like a waterfall. The water always falls down not up. It goes from a higher potential to a lower potential.


Relationship between electric field intensity and electric potential?

Electric field intensity is related to electric potential by the equation E = -dV/dx, where E is the electric field intensity, V is the electric potential, and x is the distance in the direction of the field. Essentially, the electric field points in the direction of decreasing potential, and the magnitude of the field is related to the rate at which the potential changes.


What is the relationship between the electric field between two plates and the potential difference across them?

The electric field between two plates is directly proportional to the potential difference across them. This relationship is described by the equation E V/d, where E is the electric field, V is the potential difference, and d is the distance between the plates.


What is the relationship between electric potential and electric field in a given system?

In a given system, the electric potential is directly related to the electric field. The electric field is the rate of change of electric potential with respect to distance. In other words, the electric field points in the direction of decreasing potential.


How does the increase or decrease of potential difference affect the flow of the electric current?

Increase or decrease in potential results in the change in direction of the flow of electric current.


What is the relationship between voltage (e), electric potential difference (v), and distance (d) in an electric field?

In an electric field, the relationship between voltage (e), electric potential difference (v), and distance (d) is described by the equation v e d. This means that the electric potential difference (v) between two points in an electric field is equal to the product of the electric field strength (e) and the distance (d) between the points.


What determines the direction of electric field?

The potential difference. The electrons flows from a lower potential to a higher potential. The electric current flows in the opposite direction. The electric field's direction is always from a higher potential to a lower potential. Its kind of like a waterfall. The water always falls down not up. It goes from a higher potential to a lower potential.


What is the relationship between the electric field and electric potential?

The electric field is the force experienced by a charged particle in an electric field, while the electric potential is the amount of work needed to move a charged particle from one point to another in an electric field. The relationship between the two is that the electric field is the negative gradient of the electric potential. In other words, the electric field points in the direction of the steepest decrease in electric potential.


What is the relationship between electric potential, voltage, and the concept of electric potential energy?

Electric potential, also known as voltage, is a measure of the electric potential energy per unit charge at a point in an electric field. The relationship between electric potential, voltage, and electric potential energy is that electric potential is the potential energy per unit charge, and voltage is the difference in electric potential between two points. Electric potential energy is the energy stored in a system of charges due to their positions in an electric field, and it is related to the electric potential by the equation: Electric Potential Energy Charge x Electric Potential.


In which direction do electric field points when the potential is decreasing?

When the potential is decreasing, the electric field points in the direction of decreasing potential.