Outside the battery:
- The path for conventional current goes from the positive terminal (+, usually a red wire) to the negative terminal (−, usually a black wire).
- A wire's electrons flow from the negative (−) terminal to the positive (+) terminal.
Since the current forms a continuous a loop in the same direction, the direction inside the battery is "backwards".
Inside the battery:
- Conventional current flows from the negative (−) terminal to the positive (+) terminal.
- Positive ions flow from the negative (−) terminal to the positive (+) terminal.
- Negative ions flow from the positive(+) terminal to the negative (−) terminal
Conventional current assumes that all flowing charges are positive. It simplifies the situation because it hides the more complicated electrons, positive ions, and negative ions.
