Electric Current

Definition

Electric current is the flow of electric charge through a conductive material, such as a metal wire. It is the movement of charged particles, typically electrons, within a circuit and is responsible for the generation and transmission of electrical energy.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Electric current is measured in amperes (A), which represents the rate of flow of electric charge through a given cross-section of a conductor.
2. The direction of electric current is conventionally defined as the direction of flow of positive charge, even though the actual charge carriers in most conductors are negatively charged electrons.
3. Conductors, such as metals, have a large number of free electrons that can move easily, allowing for the flow of electric current, while insulators have tightly bound electrons and do not allow for easy current flow.
4. Charging by induction is a process where an object can become charged without direct contact with a charged object, by redistributing the existing charges within the object.
5. The model of conduction in metals describes how the free electrons in a metal can move freely and carry electric current, with the metal atoms providing a fixed positive background charge.

Review Questions

• Explain how the concept of electric current relates to the behavior of conductors, insulators, and the process of charging by induction.
  • Electric current is the flow of electric charge through a conductive material, such as a metal wire. Conductors, like metals, have a large number of free electrons that can move easily, allowing for the flow of electric current. In contrast, insulators have tightly bound electrons and do not allow for easy current flow. The process of charging by induction involves the redistribution of existing charges within an object, without direct contact with a charged object, which can affect the flow of electric current through the object.
• Describe how the model of conduction in metals relates to the concept of electric current.
  • The model of conduction in metals explains how the free electrons in a metal can move freely and carry electric current. The metal atoms provide a fixed positive background charge, which allows the free electrons to move and contribute to the flow of electric charge, or electric current, through the metal. This model helps explain the high conductivity of metals and the ease with which electric current can flow through them.
• Analyze how Ampère's Law, which relates the magnetic field generated by an electric current, connects the concept of electric current to the broader understanding of electromagnetic phenomena.
  • Ampère's Law states that the magnetic field generated by an electric current is directly proportional to the magnitude of the current and the path it follows. This law establishes a fundamental connection between electric current and the resulting magnetic field, which is a crucial aspect of electromagnetic theory. By understanding how electric current generates a magnetic field, as described by Ampère's Law, we can better comprehend the interrelated nature of electric and magnetic phenomena, and how they form the foundation of many electrical and electromagnetic applications.

Related terms

Electrical Charge: The fundamental property of some subatomic particles, which can be positive, negative, or neutral, and is the source of electrical phenomena.

Electrical Resistance: The measure of the opposition to the flow of electric current in a material, which determines the amount of power dissipated as heat.

Electrical Potential Difference: The difference in electrical potential energy between two points in an electrical field, which drives the flow of electric current.