Electrical current is the flow of electric charge through a conductor, driven by a difference in electric potential . It's measured in amperes, with one ampere defined as the flow of one coulomb of charge per second.
Conventional current flows from positive to negative, opposite to electron flow . Understanding current is crucial for analyzing circuits and electrical systems, forming the foundation for more complex concepts in electromagnetism.
Electrical Current
Definition of electrical current
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Top images from around the web for Definition of electrical current 9.1 Electrical Current – University Physics Volume 2 View original
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Flow of electric charge through a conductor
Charge carriers (electrons or ions ) move through the conductor
Conductors (metals) allow charge to flow easily
Current flows from higher electric potential (voltage ) to lower electric potential
In a battery , current flows from positive terminal to negative terminal
Conventional current direction defined as flow of positive charge
In reality, electrons (negative charge) flow opposite to conventional current
Unit of electrical current
Ampere (A) is the unit of electrical current
One ampere defined as flow of one coulomb (C) of charge per second
1 A = 1 C/s 1 \text{ A} = 1 \text{ C/s} 1 A = 1 C/s
Relationship between current (I I I ), charge (Q Q Q ), and time (t t t ) given by:
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10 coulombs of charge passing through a point in a circuit in 5 seconds results in a current of 2 amperes
Conventional current vs electron flow
Conventional current defined as flow of positive charge
Historical convention still widely used in circuit analysis
In a battery -powered circuit, conventional current flows from positive to negative terminal
Electron flow is actual movement of electrons (negative charge) in a conductor
Electrons are primary charge carriers in most conductors (metals)
Electrons flow from negative to positive terminal in a battery-powered circuit
Direction of electron flow is opposite to direction of conventional current
Magnitude of current is the same in both cases
Current, Resistance, and Electric Field
Ohm's law relates current, voltage, and resistance : V = I R V = IR V = I R
Resistance opposes the flow of electric current in a conductor
Electric field in a conductor drives the flow of charge carriers
Drift velocity describes the average speed of charge carriers in response to the electric field
Current density represents the amount of current flowing per unit cross-sectional area of a conductor