Conventional Current v Electron Flow - Electricity explained

The Engineering Mindset
28 Jul 202103:23
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script delves into the historical understanding of electricity, highlighting the contrast between conventional current theory proposed by Benjamin Franklin and electron flow theory discovered by Joseph Thompson. Franklin's concept of positive and negative charges due to the accumulation and deficiency of an 'invisible fluid' led to the naming of battery terminals. However, Thompson's findings revealed electrons actually move from negative to positive, contrary to conventional current. Despite this, electrical engineering formulas remain unaffected, and the naming convention persists, with the true nature of electron flow understood by scientists and engineers but not commonly taught.

Takeaways
  • 🌟 Benjamin Franklin's early experiments with electricity led to the concept of 'positive' and 'negative' charges based on the accumulation and deficiency of an 'invisible fluid'.
  • 🔋 The development of batteries based on Franklin's work also adopted the positive and negative naming convention for their terminals.
  • 📈 Conventional current is the historical theory that electricity flows from positive to negative, which is still used in modern electrical engineering despite advancements in scientific understanding.
  • 🔬 Joseph Thompson's discovery of the electron revealed that the actual flow of charge within a circuit is from negative to positive, contrary to the conventional current theory.
  • 💡 The naming of battery terminals as positive and negative has remained unchanged, and conventional current continues to be taught and used in electrical engineering.
  • 📚 In educational materials and circuit designs, conventional current is often assumed, but engineers and scientists are aware of the actual electron flow direction.
  • 🌐 The script encourages further learning about electricity and electrical engineering through additional resources and social media platforms.
  • 🎓 Understanding both conventional current and electron flow is important for a comprehensive grasp of electrical concepts.
  • 🔍 Despite the scientific discrepancy between conventional current and electron flow, electrical engineering formulas remain consistent and yield accurate results regardless of the flow direction.
  • 🚀 The evolution of electrical knowledge from Franklin's time to modern understanding showcases the dynamic nature of scientific discovery and adaptation.
Q & A

  • What is the difference between conventional current and electron flow?

    -Conventional current refers to the historical concept proposed by Benjamin Franklin where electricity flows from positive to negative. Electron flow, on the other hand, is based on the scientific discovery that electrons actually flow from negative to positive within a circuit.

  • Who first theorized the concept of conventional current?

    -Benjamin Franklin first theorized the concept of conventional current when he observed that static electricity behaved as if an invisible fluid was accumulating in a glass tube when rubbed with a cloth.

  • How did Benjamin Franklin determine the positive and negative ends of the glass tube?

    -Benjamin Franklin assumed that the glass tube accumulating the invisible fluid was positive and that a person touching it had less of the fluid, thus considering them negative.

  • What is the significance of Joseph Thompson's discovery?

    -Joseph Thompson discovered the particle now known as the electron and realized that these electrons flowed in the opposite direction of conventional current, from negative to positive, which is referred to as electron flow.

  • Why do we still use the terms positive and negative for battery terminals despite knowing about electron flow?

    -We continue to use these terms because the naming convention established by Franklin is deeply ingrained in electrical engineering practices, and changing it would require a massive overhaul of existing systems and understanding.

  • What does the script imply about the practicality of changing the conventional current concept?

    -The script implies that changing the conventional current concept is impractical due to the widespread use of this naming convention and the fact that electrical engineering formulas do not depend on the direction of the flow but rather on the conservation of charge.

  • How does the script explain the historical misunderstanding about the direction of electricity flow?

    -The script explains that Franklin's observation of static electricity led to the misconception that electricity flowed from positive to negative. Later, Thompson's discovery of electrons revealed the actual direction of flow, which contradicted Franklin's theory.

  • Why do electrical engineering formulas not account for the direction of electron flow?

    -The electrical engineering formulas are based on the conservation of charge and do not depend on the direction of flow because they yield the same results regardless of the direction in which electrons move.

  • What advice does the script give regarding the understanding of conventional current and electron flow?

    -The script advises that while it is important to understand the historical context and the difference between conventional current and electron flow, in practice, engineers and scientists should default to the conventional current concept as it is widely accepted and taught.

  • How can one enhance their understanding of electricity and electrical engineering?

    -The script suggests continuing to learn through further educational content, such as additional videos on the topic, and engaging with resources like engineeringmindset.com.

  • What are the social media platforms mentioned in the script for following updates on electrical engineering?

    -The script mentions following on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram for updates on electrical engineering and related topics.

Outlines
00:00
🔋 The Origins of Conventional Current and Electron Flow

This paragraph delves into the historical understanding of electricity, highlighting Benjamin Franklin's early experiments with static electricity and his development of the concept of positive and negative charges. It explains how Franklin's theories led to the naming convention of positive and negative terminals in batteries, which is still in use today. The paragraph then contrasts this with Joseph Thompson's discovery of the electron and the realization that electrons actually flow in the opposite direction to conventional current, from negative to positive. It emphasizes that despite this discrepancy, electrical engineering formulas remain valid and that the conventional current naming convention persists due to its widespread adoption and the impracticality of changing it.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Electricity
Electricity is a form of energy resulting from the flow of electric charge, typically through the flow of electrons in a conductor. In the context of the video, electricity is the central theme, as it explores the historical understanding and the current scientific consensus of how it works, highlighting the evolution of our knowledge from early theories to modern understanding.
💡Conventional Current
Conventional current refers to the historical model of electric current that assumes the flow of positive charge from the positive to the negative terminal. This concept was based on Benjamin Franklin's early observations and naming convention, which has been retained for simplicity in electrical engineering despite the discovery that electrons, which carry a negative charge, actually flow in the opposite direction.
💡Electron Flow
Electron flow is the actual physical movement of electrons, which are negatively charged particles, from the negative to the positive terminal in a circuit. This concept was introduced by Joseph Thompson after his discovery of the electron and the realization that it contradicted the conventional current model by flowing in the opposite direction.
💡Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was an American polymath who made significant contributions to the understanding of electricity in the 18th century. He is known for his experiments with static electricity and his early theories on the flow of an 'invisible fluid' which he termed positive and negative. His work laid the foundation for many electrical concepts, including the naming of positive and negative terminals.
💡Joseph Thompson
Joseph Thompson was a British physicist who discovered the electron, a subatomic particle carrying a negative charge. His discovery corrected the earlier understanding of electricity proposed by Benjamin Franklin and introduced the concept of electron flow, which accurately describes the movement of electrons in a circuit.
💡Static Electricity
Static electricity is an electric charge that is not flowing, typically created by the transfer of electrons between objects through friction. In the video, static electricity is the phenomenon that Benjamin Franklin observed and studied, leading to his initial theories about the nature of electric charge and its flow.
💡Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that deals with the study, design, and application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. The video script touches on the evolution of electrical engineering, from the early theories of Benjamin Franklin to the modern understanding of electron flow.
💡Positive and Negative Terminals
Positive and negative terminals are the designated ends of a power source, such as a battery or an electrical outlet, based on the conventional current model. The positive terminal is considered the source of the flow of positive charge, while the negative terminal is where the charge is completed. Despite the discovery of electron flow, these terms have been retained for consistency and practicality in electrical engineering.
💡Electric Charge
Electric charge is a fundamental property of matter that gives rise to one of the four fundamental forces of nature, the electromagnetic force. It comes in two types: positive and negative. In the context of the video, Franklin's early experiments with static electricity led him to theorize about the movement of an 'invisible fluid' which he associated with positive and negative charges.
💡Circuit
A circuit is a path or interconnected network of electrical components through which electric current can pass. It is the basic building block of all electrical devices and systems. The video script discusses the flow of electricity within circuits, highlighting the difference between conventional current and electron flow.
💡Scientific Evolution
Scientific evolution refers to the process by which scientific knowledge and understanding change and develop over time through new discoveries and technological advancements. In the video, the concept of scientific evolution is exemplified by the shift from Franklin's early theories of electricity to the modern understanding of electron flow.
Highlights

The distinction between conventional current and electron flow is a fundamental concept in understanding electricity.

Benjamin Franklin's early experiments with electricity led to the concept of positive and negative charges based on the accumulation of an 'invisible fluid'.

The naming convention of positive and negative ends of a battery is based on Franklin's early theories.

Conventional current theory suggests that electricity flows from positive to negative, akin to the flow of water.

Joseph Thompson's discovery of the electron revealed that the actual flow of charge is from negative to positive, contrary to conventional current theory.

The electron was found to be the particle responsible for the 'invisible fluid' observed by Franklin.

Electron flow theory corrects the direction of charge movement as from negative to positive, not positive to negative as previously thought.

Despite the scientific understanding of electron flow, conventional current terminology remains in use due to historical conventions and practicality.

Electrical engineering formulas are not affected by the direction of charge flow, thus they yield consistent results regardless of the theoretical model used.

The rebranding of all battery terminals globally to align with electron flow theory is deemed impractical, leading to the continued use of conventional current nomenclature.

In discussions, designs, and analyses of electrical circuits, conventional current is assumed by default.

Educators and professionals are aware that electron flow is the actual mechanism, despite the use of conventional current in teaching and communication.

The historical development of electrical theories showcases the evolution of scientific understanding and the adaptation of language and concepts.

The story of electricity and its theories is a blend of scientific discovery, practical application, and historical preservation.

For further study, resources are available to delve deeper into electricity and electrical engineering principles.

Staying updated with educational content can be achieved by following related platforms on social media and specialized websites.

Transcripts

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ElectricityHistoryBenjaminFranklinJosephThompsonStaticElectricityElectronFlowMisnomerEngineeringPrinciplesScienceEvolutionElectricalEngineeringEducation