Eli5: Why do we define current as the rate of flow of charges and not rate of flow of electron?

495 viewsOtherPhysics

Since current caused by the movement of electrons in the wire so shouldn’t current be define rate of flow of electron?

In: Physics

7 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

The discovery and application of electricity predates the discovery of the electron by many decades.

By the time electrons were found and their charge measured, the nomenclature of circuitry had already established current going from positive to negative.

It is arbitrary.

You are viewing 1 out of 7 answers, click here to view all answers.