A circuit is powered by a battery. Conventional current (positive current) flows ____________.
a. out of the battery and into the circuit. It does not return to the battery.
b. through the battery and the rest of the circuit.
c. from the negative terminal to the positive terminal of the battery.
d. around and around in the entire circuit until the circuit is switched off.
To determine the correct answer, we need to understand the direction of conventional current flow in a circuit.
Conventional current flow assumes that positive charges (or positive ions) are the ones that flow through a circuit. In reality, it is actually negatively charged electrons that move, but for historical reasons, we describe current flow as the movement of positive charges.
With this understanding, let's consider the options:
a. out of the battery and into the circuit. It does not return to the battery.
This option is incorrect because for the circuit to be complete, the current must eventually return to the battery. The current flows out of the positive terminal and returns to the negative terminal.
b. through the battery and the rest of the circuit.
This option is correct. The current flows from the positive terminal of the battery, through the circuit, and back to the negative terminal of the battery. This creates a complete path for the current to flow.
c. from the negative terminal to the positive terminal of the battery.
This option is incorrect because it describes the opposite direction of conventional current flow. Conventional current flows from the positive terminal to the negative terminal.
d. around and around in the entire circuit until the circuit is switched off.
This option is incorrect because it implies that the current keeps circulating indefinitely without returning to the battery. As mentioned earlier, for a circuit to work, the current needs to flow from the battery and return to it.
Therefore, the correct answer is b. through the battery and the rest of the circuit.