Elektronstrømmen

Elektronstrømmen, or electron current, refers to the flow of electric charge carried by electrons in a conductor. In most electrical circuits, electrons move from the negative terminal (cathode) toward the positive terminal (anode). The direction of conventional current is defined opposite to electron flow, from positive to negative, owing to the historical ambiguity in the early development of electricity theory.

The concept of electron current arose with the discovery of the electron in 1897 by J.J. Thomson. Subsequent experiments by scientists such as Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and the Wright brothers applied the knowledge of electron flow to practical power generation and distribution. Modern bimetallic thermocouples and vacuum tubes harness electron currents for temperature sensing and high-voltage amplification, respectively.

Electron current is quantified in amperes (A), where one ampere equals one coulomb of charge passing through a cross‑section of the conductor per second. Its magnitude depends upon the material’s conductivity, temperature, cross‑sectional area, and the applied electric potential. Ohm’s law relates voltage, current, and resistance, providing a practical framework for designing electrical devices from household appliances to high‑speed data networks.

In contemporary physics, electron currents underlie advanced technologies such as field‑effect transistors, quantum tunneling devices, and superconducting circuits. Moreover, the study of drift velocity, scattering mechanisms, and electron mobility informs the development of more efficient semiconductors and photonic systems.