Electrician's Licensing Practice Exam

Current always flows from which direction?

1. Positive to negative

2. Negative to positive

3. Ground to live

4. Live to ground

The correct answer is: Negative to positive

The flow of current in an electrical circuit is conventionally described as moving from the positive terminal to the negative terminal. This is based on historical conventions established before the discovery of the electron. Current is considered to flow from areas of higher electric potential (positive) to areas of lower electric potential (negative). This convention is widely used in electrical engineering and circuit analysis. Understanding this distinction is crucial, as it influences the way circuits are designed, analyzed, and understood. In practical terms, when a voltage is applied to a circuit, electrons, which are negatively charged, actually flow from the negative terminal to the positive terminal. However, the conventional current direction (commonly understood as the flow of positive charge) is the direction from positive to negative. This foundational concept guides electricians and engineers in circuit design and troubleshooting. Recognizing this distinction helps in grasping more complex topics in electricity, such as Ohm's Law and circuit theory, as these principles are built on the understanding of how current flows within various components of an electrical system.