Question

From where can we find the conventional direction of an electric current?

Answer 1

Hint: In order to solve this question, we are going to first give the direction of flow of conventional current. Then the whole current concept is explained by giving the cause, direction and the formula for its flow. After that conventional current theory is explained.

Complete step-by-step answer:
The conventional current flows in the direction from the positive to the negative terminal. In other words, the current flows from the higher potential to the lower potential.
The electric current means the number of electrons that are flowing inside a conductor per unit amount of time. The direction of the current is opposite to the direction of the flow of electrons. The formula for the current is given by:
\[I = \dfrac{Q}{t}\]
Where \[Q\]is the amount of charge that is present on the conductor.
There are two theories to explain the direction of the current. One is the theory of the conventional current flow and the other is the theory of actual current flow.
When Benjamin Franklin was studying charges, the structure of an atom and atomic particles were unknown. Hence, he assumed the point of charge accumulation as positive and the point which is deficient of charges as negative. Therefore, the charge is said to flow from positive to negative. This is called conventional current.

Note: It is important to note that the conventional current and the actual current are said to have opposite directions. Electrons are negatively charged particles and are attracted towards the positive charge. So it is free electrons in a conductor that flows. Negatively charged electrons move from the negative terminal to the positive terminal. This is the direction of the actual current flow.