Which is correct about the charge movement when a battery is connected to copper wire? a.) Electrons leave the positive battery terminal and electrons enter the negative terminal. b.) Electrons leave the negative battery terminal and electrons enter the positive terminal. c.) Protons leave the positive battery terminal and positive charges enter the negative terminal. d.) Protons leave the negative battery terminal and positive charges enter the positive terminal.

Question

Physics

Gloria Molina

27 November, 20:23

Which is correct about the charge movement when a battery is connected to copper wire? a.) Electrons leave the positive battery terminal and electrons enter the negative terminal. b.) Electrons leave the negative battery terminal and electrons enter the positive terminal. c.) Protons leave the positive battery terminal and positive charges enter the negative terminal. d.) Protons leave the negative battery terminal and positive charges enter the positive terminal.

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Answers (1)

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Kadyn Gill · Answer 1

b.) Electrons leave the negative battery terminal and electrons enter the positive terminal.

Explanation:

- First of all, the carriers of charge in an electrical circuit are the electrons, not the protons. In fact, electrons in a conductor (such as the copper wire) are free to move, while protons are bond inside the nuclei of the atoms, so they are not free to move. This means that only choices a) and b) could be correct.

- Finally, we know that charges with same sign repel each other, while charges with opposite sign attract each other. This means that electrons are repelled by the negative terminal of the battery and attracted by the positive terminal of the battery. Therefore, the correct choice must be

b.) Electrons leave the negative battery terminal and electrons enter the positive terminal.