How does current flow in a circuit?

• A. From negative to positive
• B. In a circle, without direction
• C. From positive to negative
• D. From neutral to charged regions

Answer: (C)

Current flow is described in terms of potential difference: conventional current travels from the higher potential to the lower potential. In a circuit powered by a voltage source, that means current moves from the positive terminal, through the circuit, to the negative terminal. It’s important to note that electrons actually move in the opposite direction, from negative to positive, but the standard convention for circuit diagrams is opposite to this electron flow. The idea of current circulating without a defined direction isn’t accurate, since there is a specific direction set by the voltage source. There isn’t a notion of moving from neutral to charged regions in a steady circuit; the current is the continuous flow around the loop driven by the voltage difference.