[R-390] Current flow (WAS Bristo)

[2002tii]

Roy wrote:

> > Where I work all the power techs call "bus bars"
> > incorrectly, they call them "buzz bars"

Judging by his e-mail address, where Tim works if you touch a buss 
bar it may buzz, but you won't be the one who hears it.

>If I remember correctly, at one time the Navy, and possibly other
>services too, taught basic electricity with the idea that the current
>flowed in the direction of electron movement.  So, the positive
>terminal of a battery would be shown with the  current *entering* that
>terminal.  Then, there was a reconciliation with the rest of the world
>and all the training materials and schematics and so on got changed.
>This likely was before WW-II: I don't have any examples of that
>convention.

It's baaaaaaaack.  There is a growing trend in EE and Electrophysics 
to consider current as electron drift.  Current flow from anode to 
cathode is known as "conventional current" among these folks.  By the 
way, do you know who established the convention of current flowing 
from anode to cathode?  (Answer below.)  Of course, lots of other 
things have to change when you go from conventional current to 
electron drift -- for example, Fleming's right-hand and left-hand 
rules.  Some study guides have been published in two versions -- 
conventional current and "electron flow theory" versions.

Best regards,

Don



(scroll down for answer to pop quiz)



















Answer:  Benjamin Franklin