Describe, in terms of particles and the terminals of the battery, the movement of charge in an electric circuit

In an electric circuit, the movement of charge is facilitated by particles called electrons. These electrons carry a negative charge and move from the negative terminal of the battery to the positive terminal.

Step 1: When the circuit is closed (i.e., a complete path is provided for the flow of electricity), the battery provides the energy needed to move the electrons. This energy forces the electrons to move away from the negative terminal of the battery.

Step 2: The electrons then move through the circuit, passing through any components such as resistors, capacitors, or inductors that may be present. As they move, they carry the electric charge with them.

Step 3: Eventually, the electrons reach the positive terminal of the battery. This is because they are attracted to the positive charge of this terminal (opposite charges attract).

Step 4: Once they reach the positive terminal, the electrons are then cycled back to the negative terminal, and the process starts again. This continuous flow of electrons from the negative to the positive terminal is what we refer to as electric current.

Remember, while the electrons physically move from the negative to the positive terminal, the electric current is said to flow from positive to negative. This is a convention that dates back to Benjamin Franklin, before the discovery of electrons.