Current and electron flow

[postbacpremed87]

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I am going over electrochem in chem and AC/DC current in physics....BR says current flows in the direction opposite electron flow. I thought current was essentially electrons. Please clarify...

 

[Postictal Raiden]

I am going over electrochem in chem and AC/DC current in physics....BR says current flows in the direction opposite electron flow. I thought current was essentially electrons. Please clarify...

Just like the electrical field, current is conventionally thought of as the flow of positive charges.

 

[sdm33]

I am going over electrochem in chem and AC/DC current in physics....BR says current flows in the direction opposite electron flow. I thought current was essentially electrons. Please clarify...

Electrons are negative and flow from negative to positive. 'Conventional' current flow is from positive to negative. This is because early researchers in electricity thought electricity flowed from positive to negative, which is why they called them that in the first place

 

[gettheleadout]

As everyone has said, current is defined as the flow of positive charge. Naturally protons aren't actually moving, but this convention is historical in origin.

Current flows in the opposite direction to the drift velocity of the electrons in the conductor.