Current & Voltage Course

Lesson 12 of 16: Electron Flow

Move step by step through the course and keep track of where you are.

Simulation

Electron Flow

See how real negative charges move in a closed circuit. Adjust voltage and resistance to watch the electron drift change.

Voltage

12.0 V

Current

2.00 A

Flow

MEDIUM

Core idea

Electrons are negatively charged particles. In metal wires, current happens when those electrons drift through the conductor.

Simple idea: negative terminal -> positive terminal

Electron View

Watch the charge direction

The moving particles show real electron motion. You can also switch to conventional current to compare the two direction conventions.

State

Playing

Electron Flow

MEDIUM

40% relative flow strength

Current

2.00 A

Current is the charge flow rate.

Direction Mode

Electron

Electron flow shows negative charges moving from negative terminal to positive terminal.

What to Notice

Watch electron flow change the picture

Notice how stronger voltage makes the drift more active, while higher resistance slows it down. The direction mode changes the teaching convention, not the circuit parts.

Negative charges move

In electron mode, particles travel from the negative terminal toward the positive terminal.

More push, faster drift

Increasing voltage gives the charges more push, so the flow becomes stronger.

More resistance, slower flow

Increasing resistance makes it harder for charges to move through the same circuit.

Summary

Beginner summary

Keep these simple ideas in mind while you compare electron flow with conventional current direction.

Electrons are real negative charges. They move from the negative terminal toward the positive terminal when the circuit path is complete.

Electron Flow

Electrons move from the negative terminal toward the positive terminal.

Conventional Current

Conventional current direction is shown from positive to negative terminal.

Resistance Effect

Higher resistance makes electron flow slower when voltage stays the same.