What causes current to move in a DC circuit? (1 Viewer)

[wagig]

Hey guys,
My textbook says that current moves through a conductor due to a difference in potential energy on one side of the power source to the other, but various sites on the internet say the current moves from one side to the other through a conductor due to each side of the power source having a different charge (+ and -) causing the charge to be attracted to the opposite.

I'm confused as to which is correct :/
Can anyone clarify this?
Thank You!

 

[hit patel]

Basically The potential energy is what moves the electrons from one place to another no matter where the current is. So if it to go from live wire to ground wire it is not because it is charged but the potential energy now has another medium to travel across so basically a current with enough potential energy will travel almost anywhere however if there is an opposite charge close to it, it will carry the current from that terminal to the other. i.e. in house hold circuits the ground wire leads to the ground where the earth will neutralize the charges. The potential energy usually builds up where an excess number of electrons exists and to neutralise the excess charge it moves from one terminal to another.

I hope this helped you.

 

[wagig]

So in a basic circuit, the potential energy a charge has at one end of the power source will push it through the conductor to the other end of the power source?

 

[hit patel]

So in a basic circuit, the potential energy a charge has at one end of the power source will push it through the conductor to the other end of the power source?

Yes

 

[wagig]

Okay thanks