Electric current is a flow of electric charge through a conductive medium.
In electric circuits this charge is often carried by moving electrons in a wire. It can also be carried by ions in an electrolyte, or by both ions and electrons such as in a plasma.
The SI unit for measuring the rate of flow of electric charge is the ampere, which is charge flowing through some surface at the rate of one coulomb per second. Electric current is measured using an ammeter.
Read more about Electric Current: Symbol, Conduction Mechanisms in Various Media, Current Density and Ohm's Law, Drift Speed, Electromagnetism, Conventions, AC and DC, Occurrences, Current Measurement
Famous quotes containing the words electric and/or current:
“Wisdom is like electricity. There is no permanently wise man, but men capable of wisdom, who, being put into certain company, or other favorable conditions, become wise for a short time, as glasses rubbed acquire electric power for a while.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“A reaction: a boat which is going against the current but which does not prevent the river from flowing on.”
—Victor Hugo (1802–1885)