Figure 32. Electron Motion During Charge.

ELECTRONIC PRINCIPLES - OD1647 - LESSON 1/TASK 1

following discussion so that, a stepbystep analysis can be

made.

At the instant the switch is thrown to position 2 (figure 31,

view B, on the previous page), a displacement of electrons

occurs simultaneously in all parts of the circuit. This

electron displacement is directed away from the negative

terminal and toward the positive terminal of the source (the

battery). A brief surge of current will flow as the capacitor

charges.

If it were possible to analyze the motion of the individual

electrons in this surge of charging current, the following

action would be observed (figure 32).

FIGURE 32. ELECTRON MOTION DURING CHARGE.

At the instant the switch is closed, the positive terminal of

the battery extracts an electron from the bottom conductor. The

negative terminal of the battery forces an electron into the top

conductor. At this instant, an electron is forced into the top

plate of the capacitor and another is pulled from the bottom

plate. Thus, in every part of the circuit a clockwise

DISPLACEMENT of electrons occurs simultaneously.