Thanks Tim.
I always study as if negative charge is at higher potential when compared with the positive charge. That hepls me a lot. Because in reality the electron current flows from negative plate to the positive plate.
I have another doubt.
Let us consider two charges, one is negative and the other one positive charge, placed near one another. I believe that from each excessive electron on the negative plate there will be an electric force line directed towards the positive charge. So, the number of force lines is equal to the value of the negative charge. These force lines constitute the electric field.
And we represent these force lines as some form of curves. If these lines donot represent the electron or current path, then why do we have certain shapes for these curves and what do the shape of these curves represent?
Thanks,
regards,
Beenu.
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Originally Posted by Tim_Lou
yes, current in a wire (for example) is a result of electric field within the wire. (be it static or non-static)
and no, things do not necessary follow the field lines. the field lines only indicate force and hence acceleration when a charge is placed in that position. and acceleration does not necessary mean the direction of motion. for example, a particle can move in circle while the field is pointing toward the center of the circle.
as santus said, electrons in a wire are like particles bounding around. they are moving in very random fashion. when there is a field presented, they will still be bumping into things and colliding randomly. However, they will slowing tend to moving to the a higher potential (they are negatively charged). a great analogy is water falling from high ground to low ground in a river full of obstacles. (you can think of imaginary positive charges falling from high potential to low potential) people do not discuss about electrons moving in a wire, rather, they say positive charges moving in the oppositing direction. its just the way things are.
btw welcome to the forum.
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