Difference between revisions of "Current"
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| − | '''Current''' is the amount of electrical charge flowing through an object, or through an electric circuit, at a given moment. While moving charge is normally carried by [[electrons]], positive current is measured in the opposite direction from the flow of electrons, since electrons have a negative charge. | + | '''Current''' is the amount of electrical charge flowing through an object, or through an electric circuit, at a given moment. While moving charge is normally carried by [[electrons]], positive current is measured in the opposite direction from the flow of electrons, since electrons have a negative charge. |
| − | Different objects have different [[ | + | Different objects have different [[Electrical resistance|resistance]]. An object with high resistance, called an [[insulator]], will have a lower current flowing through it. An object with low resistance, called a [[conductor]], will have a higher current flowing through it. |
'''Current''' is typically measured in the [[SI]] unit of Amperes (<tt>A</tt>), often referred to as "amps". <tt>1 A = 1 [[Coulomb]]/[[second]]</tt> | '''Current''' is typically measured in the [[SI]] unit of Amperes (<tt>A</tt>), often referred to as "amps". <tt>1 A = 1 [[Coulomb]]/[[second]]</tt> | ||
| − | The word "current" appears in the phrases "direct current" ([[Direct current|DC]]) and "alternating Current" ([[Alternating Current (AC)|AC]]) though those phrases don't specifically refer to current, and could more commonly be considered to refer to [[volt | + | The word "current" appears in the phrases "direct current" ([[Direct current|DC]]) and "alternating Current" ([[Alternating Current (AC)|AC]]) though those phrases don't specifically refer to current, and could more commonly be considered to refer to [[volt]]age. |
== References == | == References == | ||
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[[Category:Electricity]] | [[Category:Electricity]] | ||
[[Category:Electronics]] | [[Category:Electronics]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Electrical Engineering]] | ||
[[Category:Radio]] | [[Category:Radio]] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:43, December 13, 2016
Current is the amount of electrical charge flowing through an object, or through an electric circuit, at a given moment. While moving charge is normally carried by electrons, positive current is measured in the opposite direction from the flow of electrons, since electrons have a negative charge.
Different objects have different resistance. An object with high resistance, called an insulator, will have a lower current flowing through it. An object with low resistance, called a conductor, will have a higher current flowing through it.
Current is typically measured in the SI unit of Amperes (A), often referred to as "amps". 1 A = 1 Coulomb/second
The word "current" appears in the phrases "direct current" (DC) and "alternating Current" (AC) though those phrases don't specifically refer to current, and could more commonly be considered to refer to voltage.