Answer to Question #115633 in Electric Circuits for SHADAB

Question

in lab frame current flow due to ions ,by electrons or by both?

Answer 1

That can depend on the particular situation. Generally ions tend to be less mobile than electrons. In solids the ions can be bound into a position by interatomic forces and are not mobile at all so conduction is generally by electrons ( but see hole conduction in semiconductors). In liquids and gases both are mobile but you would normally expect electrons to have higher drift velocities. In some biological systems electrical signalling is carried out by the passage of ions through cell membranes through ion gating mechanisms.