Deang Posted July 5, 2003 Share Posted July 5, 2003 Is the following statement true? "The electrical source has two terminals, designated positive (+) and negative (-). As long as there is an unbroken connection from source to load and back again as shown here, electrons will be pushed from the negative terminal of the source, through the load, and then back to the positive terminal of the source. I decided to pretend I don't know anything, and started from the beginning -- I then discovered I don't know anything. BTW -- does it matter which way plastic caps are pointed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrot Posted July 5, 2003 Share Posted July 5, 2003 Dean, I know one thing, electrons move so fast they hard to pin down. Just try to catch one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted July 5, 2003 Author Share Posted July 5, 2003 Electrons do a lot of running in place, but they don't really go anywhere. Electrons don't "flow". Electrons are in the conductor, and when excited, they vibrate and touch each -- and this advances the electical field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted July 5, 2003 Share Posted July 5, 2003 AND, while trying to catch one, you inevitably change it's state and position! Yes, Dean, the statement is correct. However, to make the equations easier, the common convention is to draw current flow from positive to negative (Like that?). The negative terminal is so negative because of the abundance of electrons trying to jump off and run to the positive terminal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkrop Posted July 5, 2003 Share Posted July 5, 2003 I think that is a "laymans" explanation of the physics of what is going on. OH NO! Physics class, run away! run away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemyhorns Posted July 5, 2003 Share Posted July 5, 2003 Is there any explanation of "hole flow", that is from positive to negative from where ever you got the info? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted July 5, 2003 Author Share Posted July 5, 2003 http://www.play-hookey.com/dc_theory/looking_at_electrons.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fisher Posted July 5, 2003 Share Posted July 5, 2003 ---------------- On 7/5/2003 6:08:35 PM DeanG wrote: Is the following statement true? "The electrical source has two terminals, designated positive (+) and negative (-). As long as there is an unbroken connection from source to load and back again as shown here, electrons will be pushed from the negative terminal of the source, through the load, and then back to the positive terminal of the source. I decided to pretend I don't know anything, and started from the beginning -- I then discovered I don't know anything. BTW -- does it matter which way plastic caps are pointed? ---------------- Hi Dean, What is described above is the operating theory for direct current (DC). All semiconductors and tubes operate on this theory. Current flow is from negative to positive, or from the MOST negative to the less negative. In semiconductors, there are these things called "holes". Holes are not protons, neutrons, or electrons, they are merely described as having a depletion of electrons. In a transistor, a negative depletion region occurs at the PN junction. Electron flow is towards the holes. Capacitors for DC use are usually electrolytic, or non-polarized electrolytic. Tantalum are also polarized. The capacitors you describe are coupling capacitors, having an outer foil. These are not polarized, and are usually used to block DC, while letting only AC pass. The outer foil doesn't indicate a polarized capacitor, but the outer foil should be connected to 0V potential if used in an RF application. For audio use, you can connect them in the circuit any way you want. Bill wjkubacki@aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksdad Posted July 5, 2003 Share Posted July 5, 2003 when i was an apprentice they taught us that electrons flow was from neg to pos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flux Posted July 6, 2003 Share Posted July 6, 2003 Speakers are AC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flux Posted July 6, 2003 Share Posted July 6, 2003 So which way should a circuit be traced? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djk Posted July 6, 2003 Share Posted July 6, 2003 Some dead guy got it wrong. "So which way should a circuit be traced?" The 'arrows' assume positive to negative flow. Unless you are doing electroplating or something similar it really doesn't matter. Its the guy that blathers on about 'convententional flow' vs 'electron flow' that always hooks the elecrodes up backwards anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted July 6, 2003 Author Share Posted July 6, 2003 "Some dead guy got it wrong." LOL - very funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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