Conventional current direction in basic circuit theory: By definition, conventional current flows in which direction relative to the polarity of a source?

Introduction / Context:
Conventional current is a historical definition that treats current as the flow of positive charge from the positive terminal toward the negative terminal of a source. Although electrons physically move in the opposite direction in metallic conductors, the conventional definition is used universally in circuit analysis.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We use standard circuit-theory conventions.
• Metallic conduction is assumed (electron flow is opposite conventional current).
• No special semiconductor or ionic contexts override the convention.

Concept / Approach:
Conventional current direction was established before electron discovery. It simplifies sign conventions and remains embedded in textbooks, schematics, and engineering formulas. Therefore, current is considered to flow from a higher electric potential to a lower electric potential through an external circuit.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify the positive terminal as the point of higher potential.By convention, positive charge would leave the positive terminal, traverse the circuit, and return to the negative terminal.Thus, conventional current flows from positive to negative.

Verification / Alternative check:
Examine passive sign convention: power absorbed by a resistor is P = V * I when I enters the positive-labeled terminal. This aligns with current considered from positive to negative through passive elements.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
(a) Describes electron flow, not conventional current. (c) “Left to right” is arbitrary and depends on drawing orientation. (d) “Neutral to positive” applies to AC distribution terminology, not the abstract direction of conventional current.

Common Pitfalls:
Interchanging electron flow and conventional current; forgetting that many device equations assume conventional current for sign consistency.

Final Answer:
from positive to negative.