How Does Electric Current Flow in a Circuit?

How Does Electric Current Flow in a Circuit?

Electric Circuit comprises of Four (4) inseparable components that if successfully connected to form a closed-loop makes electric current flow possible. A closed-circuit is a complete circuit since it offers an unbroken path to allow the continuous flow of electrons from the negative to the positive terminal of a battery cell. An open-circuit is an incomplete circuit since there is a break that impedes the flow of electrons.

In a simple electric circuit, these four (4) vital components can consist of battery, copper, switch, and a light bulb. Each play a significant role in producing eletric current.

The Battery is the energy source, it supplies the required electromotive force (EMF) to cause the electrons to move in the circuit away from its negative terminal and pulls them towards the positive terminal. It is the provider of voltage not electrons as many would think.

The Copper is the conductive path, which provides a pathway for electricity to pass through it with greater ease. Metals are known for its electron mobility, due to its loosely bound electrons in the outer shell surrounding the nucleus. It's loose electrons with the aid of the voltage will move around the circuit to produce current.

The Switch serves the purpose of regulating the flow of electrical current within a circuit. It works in an ON & OFF mechanism, that by turning the switch OFF it creates an open-circuit, emphasizing a break circuit and that by turning the switch ON it creates a closed-circuit, emphasizing a complete circuit.

The Light Bulb is the load which makes the circuit nothing in its absence, since it serves as the main building block, as it is the component that is energized, when the electric current passess through a bulb, it heats up the filament and gives out the light energy.

So to summarize, electric current is produced when the free electrons in the atom of a metal wire starts to flow when applied with voltage through energy source, this conductive medium aside from being the source of electrons also links the rest of the components forming the continuous path, the flow of current is then controlled by a switch by turning it on or off resulting to the closing or opening of the circuit, through a continuous current flow it will then reached the load where the electrical energy will be converted to a other form of energy in this case to light energy.

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[PsychoAMVproduction]

Finally, an interesting and short explanation of the principle. Short but efficient as it include everything needed. I looked for 30 mn on youtube through very long and not informative videos with millions of views before to find this one. Unfortunately, the best videos on you tube are often the ones with not a lot of views. Anyway, thank you for this good video.

[barrya.]

Conventional / DC current : Current is flow of electrons, but "current" and electrons flow in the opposite direction. CURRENT flows from positive to negative and ELECTRONS flow from negative to positive...as illustrated in this video. When referring to "current" it is assumed you're referring it flowing from POSITIVE TO NEGATIVE. The flow of electrons is termed electron current. Electrons flow from the negative terminal to the
positive. Conventional current or simply current, behaves as if positive charge carriers cause current
flow. Conventional current flows from the positive terminal to the negative. Perhaps the clearest
way to think about this is to pretend as if movement of positive charge carriers constituted current
flow INSIDE a car battery, the ELECTRONS flow (as stated prior) from negative to positive....creating the power in a battery of same battery at terminals the CURRENT flows from POSITIVE TO NEGATIVE throughout the various components in automobile. Feel free to chime in if you feel I stated anything in error.

[ayogipointoflight]

Really good 👍❤️ appreciate your efforts 🙏

[raghavauto]

Then why resistors are given to positive sides

[AntarjyamiBehera-fidu]

The flow of electron is known as current but the conventional current flows opposite to the electron current.

[dragan]

I still struggle to remember how electric current flows in a smps?

[StoneShards]

What is the necessarily constant speed of electrons moving in an electric current?! Remember, electrons have mass!

[tecnocrafts]

An other similar video showing electromagnetics fields around an electric circuit:
What is around the space of an electrical circuit?

[Important]

You put the switch on the neutral line....switch always have to put on live