An electric current, also known as electricity, is the flow of electrical energy and is quantified in amperes in a conductor. In other words, the movement of charge (charged particles) through a conductor with regard to time is known as electric current. The procedure is comparable to a river moving in one direction.
How is Electric Current produced?
The path of electron flow is from negative to positive. Positive charge, or positive to negative, is the way in which electric current flows. An arrow in a circuit designates the direction of positive current movement.
Only negatively charged free electrons can travel in a conductor metal like copper or aluminum to create current. Protons that are positively charged are immobile. However, a gas or liquid has both moving protons (+) and moving electrons (-), which results in a current movement.
What are the types of Electric Currents?
There are two significant types of electric current. Direct currents (DC), which flow in a single path like a battery, are the first type. Alternating currents (AC) are the second type and they sporadically reverse orientation. Transformers enable us to change the voltage of AC electricity.
Because alternating current is more adaptable, we can move it effectively through national high-voltage grids before stepping it down to where it is used in our homes and places of employment.
How is Electric Current measured?
The quantity of free electrons passing a specific spot in a circuit within a second is how electric current is measured. As a result, we can draw the conclusion that electric current is the movement of charge per second.
The coulomb is the SI measure of charge (not current). A current of one ampere can transport one coulomb of energy. The ampere is the SI (International System of Units) measure of current (A). The letter I stand for a steady current. I stand for current that varies over time.
Also Read: What is an Electric Circuit?
What is the formula to calculate Electric Current?
One coulomb of charge passes a particular point every second in a current of one ampere. In general, stable current I flowing for a duration t while Q = It determines charge Q.
The Formula stands as:
I (amperes) = Q (coulombs)/t (seconds)
We generate electricity by spinning a rotor in a generator or by using solar panels. Though we have the ability to store a lot of it, we are unable to produce as much electricity as we would like. We must therefore produce it just in time to satisfy our requirements.