Talk:GCSE Science/Magnetic effects of a current

I just thought people should know that the following statement from this page on electromagnets is wrong:

''Rermember current flows from thwe positive to the negative terminals on the power pack. If the current''

The negative pole on a battery is called negative because of the build-up of excess electrons that have a negative charge, and it is the electrons that "flow" from the negative pole to the positive. The terms positive and negative were assigned according to properties observed in experiments with static electricity before anyone understood what was causing the phenonema. By the time it was discovered that it was an excessive of particles (now called electrons) that caused the effect, that end had already been assigned the label "negative" giving us the image of an absence of substance. It is a very common misunderstanding to think electricity "flows" (another misunderstanding)from positive (in popular language indicating having more of something) to negative (an area of less), when this is actually the opposite of what happens.

Bruce Williams Naselle, WA             USA

You are quite right that electrons flow from negative to positive. However current flows from positive to negative. It's just terminology left over from the days when we didn't know about electrons. It's unfortunate, but we are stuck with it. Theresa knott 20:07, 5 May 2004 (UTC)

Graphics and Grips
I literally stared at the "N" and "S" graphics for minutes until it dawned on me what was trying to be conveyed. Might I suggest that the N and S symbols are scaled to fit in two, same diameter circles (dotted) and graphically treated to fit the circle. Then I'm sure I'd have a more rapid path to enlightenment.

On another note: I know about a right-hand grip technique to aid memory of polarity but does everyone? Again, might I suggest a graphic here?

KeithF 00:47, 14 October 2006 (UTC)