Stroombaan

Stroombaan is a Dutch term that literally means “current path.” In Dutch-language science, it is used to refer to the path along which electrical current or moving charged particles flow within a system. The term emphasizes the route or trajectory of the current, from source to sink or through a region where forces act on the charges.

In physics, a stroombaan can describe the trajectory of a charged particle under the influence of electric and magnetic fields. In this sense, it is similar to the word trajectory or orbit, and it is commonly discussed in topics such as electromagnetism, electron optics, and particle motion. The precise shape of a stroombaan depends on the forces present and can be circular, helical, parabolic, or more complex.

In electrical engineering and circuit analysis, the current path through a circuit can also be described as a stroombaan, though more everyday terms such as current path, circuit path, or current flow are typically used. In practice, engineers more often talk about circuits, loops, or traces rather than the abstract idea of a stroombaan, and the term is more common in older literature or in more theoretical descriptions.

Etymologically, stroombaan combines stroe(m) or stroom (current) with baan (path or trajectory), reflecting its core meaning as the route followed by moving charges. The term is relatively specialized and may be encountered mainly in technical or historical Dutch texts, with modern usage tending toward synonyms such as traject or stroompad.