Conventional & Electron flow theory?

[mikemck]

Why is conventional flow theory still used, when it's actually electron flow theory that is correct?

TIA

 

[charlie b]

Neither is "correct," and neither is "incorrect." Both are reasonable and accurate models of a physical phenomenon. Both have value; each has advantages; each has disadvantages. One reason to keep teaching the conventional current version is that there are a vast great number of text books and other documents in existence. I haven't the cash on hand to replace them all.

 

[Overkill]

Ditto on what Charlie said.

Key word being THEORY. If anyone really knew how electricity works, it would be called electrical science.

 

[drbond24]

My professors taught conventional, but exposed us to electron flow theory so we would know the reality.

As Charlie said, it really doesn't matter which way you go. As long as you pick one and stick with it, your calculations will be correct.

 

[zog]

Current "flow" is not the "flow" of electrons or holes, it is the transfer of energy from atom to atom, the electrons dont move much at all but the energy transfer does. Think of the old newtons cradle desktop toy.

 

[iaov]

Ditto on what Charlie said.

Key word being THEORY. If anyone really knew how electricity works, it would be called electrical science.

Theory realy is the operative word here. It has always amazed me how well we can predict and manipulate a phenomena that we realy don't know much about. When we look at the world at the atomic level it gets very wierd!!

 

[realolman]

Why is conventional flow theory still used, when it's actually electron flow theory that is correct?

TIA

I think atomic theory is better to teach fundamental electricity, and may in fact be the way it actually works, but the math works better positive to negative.

 

[stevee]

I've got to agree with the "theory" vs "science" terminology. When we talk about how electricity works we base our statements on the "theory" of how it is supposed to work. But as all of us who have been around electricity for a while know, electricity does not always do what it is "theoretically" supposed to do.

And I also am amazed when looking at the world at the atomic level. Not to mention the way so many "scientific" or "theoretical" concepts correlate to geometric shapes and trigonometry.

I think one of the most interesting things in life are the unknowns. As a matter of fact my son and I were talking about a couple unknows last night. So, if everything in the universe came from a central point until the big bang occurred what was around all the matter of the universe? And if the universe is ever expanding, where is it expanding to and what is that area called? Mind blowing stuff! Much like electricity which is absolutely amazing when you really look at it.

 

[tallgirl]

Ditto on what Charlie said.

Key word being THEORY. If anyone really knew how electricity works, it would be called electrical science.

Except that in scientific matters, "theory" pretty much means "fact".

What lay people think of as a "theory" in science is a "hypothesis".

It's a fact that electrons are the charge carriers. The nucleus, where all the positive charge is located, don't move so easily. On the other hand, only pedants and physics profs get picky about which way the charge is really moving ...

 

[iaov]

I've got to agree with the "theory" vs "science" terminology. When we talk about how electricity works we base our statements on the "theory" of how it is supposed to work. But as all of us who have been around electricity for a while know, electricity does not always do what it is "theoretically" supposed to do.

And I also am amazed when looking at the world at the atomic level. Not to mention the way so many "scientific" or "theoretical" concepts correlate to geometric shapes and trigonometry.

I think one of the most interesting things in life are the unknowns. As a matter of fact my son and I were talking about a couple unknows last night. So, if everything in the universe came from a central point until the big bang occurred what was around all the matter of the universe? And if the universe is ever expanding, where is it expanding to and what is that area called? Mind blowing stuff! Much like electricity which is absolutely amazing when you really look at it.

I have to disagree a bit. I believe electricity always does what it is supposed to do in theory. There is always a logical explanation for why something has occurred electricaly, however as any one who has been in our buisiness knows, very often we don't have a clue as to why something has occurred. Part 2. The universe is expanding. It isn't expanding into anything. Its growing. The universe, quantum physics, and electricity in particular turn out to be not only wierder than we had imagined, they are wierder than we Can imagine. Everything built from six quarks.Most stuff from only two. Quarks have mass but no spactial displacement!! I think there are unknowns wich will probably always remain unknowns because in the end we have only a three pound primate brain to contemplate them with.

 

[cadpoint]

Except that in scientific matters, "theory" pretty much means "fact"....

No I disagree, A theroy is somehting that hasn't been proofed or proved(layman terms), its not a law, just somethign that hasn't happened yet , TO be proved that it can happen.

What lay people think of as a "theory" in science is a "hypothesis".

No, that is the basis of a statement of what happened in a experiment,
a conjector based on the test, research, or from a result from the use of that Item in the process of an experiment.

It's a fact that electrons are the charge carriers. The nucleus, where all the positive charge is located, don't move so easily. On the other hand, only pedants and physics profs get picky about which way the charge is really moving ...

Think of it as a Shared electreon at the speed of light, My hypothesis...

 

[augie47]

theory

theory

I think this Forum post best explains the theory....

http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=93094&highlight=%22basic+electricity%22

 

[mpross]

semiconductor physics

semiconductor physics

Except that in scientific matters, "theory" pretty much means "fact".

What lay people think of as a "theory" in science is a "hypothesis".

It's a fact that electrons are the charge carriers. The nucleus, where all the positive charge is located, don't move so easily. On the other hand, only pedants and physics profs get picky about which way the charge is really moving ...

In the case of many p-doped materials the holes actually serve as the charge carrier... but does this matter to electrical workers, or any person involved in the building trades? Hmmm... maybe to a few geeks... and that is meant to be a compliment.



Matt

 

[cadpoint]

I'll go with the charged / shared electron

I'll go with the charged / shared electron

In the case of many p-doped materials the holes actually serve as the charge carrier... but does this matter to electrical workers, or any person involved in the building trades? Hmmm... maybe to a few geeks...

& U think about what all day ? ?

 

[steve66]

Why is conventional flow theory still used, when it's actually electron flow theory that is correct?

TIA

Because that way the arrows on the diodes and transistor symbols point in the right direction.

Steve