Electric current - Revision history

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported

2026-08-04T20:43:53Z

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energy>Jmdonev at 18:44, 31 July 2026

2026-07-31T18:44:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:44, 31 July 2026
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	[[Category:Done ~~2021~~-10-29]]		[[Category:Done 2026-08-01]]
	[[Category:Translated to Spanish]]		[[Category:Translated to Spanish]]
	[[es:Corriente eléctrica]]		[[es:Corriente eléctrica]]
	[[File:electrical-863402_1280.jpg\|300px\|thumb\|Figure 1. Large high voltage power lines are a crucial component to the grid. They transport electric current with little energy losses.<ref>Pixabay [Online], Available: https://pixabay.com/en/electrical-wires-grid-power-863402/</ref>]]		[[File:electrical-863402_1280.jpg\|300px\|thumb\|Figure 1. Large high voltage power lines are a crucial component to the grid. They transport electric current with little energy losses.<ref>Pixabay [Online], Available: https://pixabay.com/en/electrical-wires-grid-power-863402/</ref>]]

	<onlyinclude>'''Electric current''' also referred to as '''amperage''' is the amount of [[electric charge]] flowing per [[second]] within a [[conductor]]. It is what carries the [[electric power]] from [[power plant]]s, through the [[electrical transmission\|transmission system]] and [[distribution grid]] for [[industrial electricity use\|industrial]] and [[Connecting homes to the electrical grid\|home electricity use]]. It is otherwise known as [[electricity]].</onlyinclude> The intensity of current is determined by the amount of charge flowing per second and is measured in [[ampere]]s, abbreviated as A or amp. When electric charge flows in one direction it's called [[direct current]] and when the electric charge wiggles back and forth, alternating directions, it's called [[alternating current]].		<onlyinclude>'''Electric current''' also referred to as '''amperage''' is the amount of [[electric charge]] flowing per [[second]] within a [[conductor]]. It is what carries the [[electric power]] from [[power plant]]s, through the [[electrical transmission\|transmission system]] and [[distribution grid]] for [[industrial electricity use\|industrial]] and [[Connecting homes to the electrical grid\|home electricity use]]. It is otherwise known as [[electricity]].</onlyinclude> The intensity of current is determined by the amount of charge flowing per second and is measured in [[ampere]]s, abbreviated as '''A''' or '''amp'''. When electric charge flows in one direction it's called [[direct current]] and when the electric charge wiggles back and forth, in alternating directions, it's called [[alternating current]].

	The amount of direct current can be calculated from the following formula:		The amount of direct current can be calculated from the following formula:
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	However, coulombs of charge cannot be directly measured so usually a device known as a [[multimeter]] is used to measure current. Alternating current uses a similar equation to determine the amount of current, but the math becomes a little trickier since the direction of moving charge changes rapidly.		However, coulombs of charge cannot be directly measured so usually a device known as a [[multimeter]] is used to measure current. Alternating current uses a similar equation to determine the amount of current, but the math becomes a little trickier since the direction of moving charge changes rapidly.
			[[File:Urgent mission.png\|thumb\|Figure 2. A popular webcomic on how positive and negative charges were defined.<ref>XKCD (2017). (Accessed July 15, 2026). ''Urgent Mission'' [Online]. Available: https://xkcd.com/567/</ref>]]
			By convention, the term ''current'' (also referred to as conventional current) is defined by the charges moving from the positive terminal to the negative terminal. There also exists the term ''[[electron]] flow'' that is used to define charges moving from the negative terminal to the positive terminal. Please note that these are opposites. Conventional current is more popular, though either term may be used so long as this is done consistently to avoid any confusion. Figure 2 is a funny webcomic about this discrepancy.

	By convention, the term current (also referred to as conventional current) is defined by the charges moving from the positive terminal to the negative terminal. There also exists the term [[electron]] flow that is used to define charges moving from the negative terminal to the positive terminal. Please note that these are opposites. Conventional current is more popular, though either term may be used so long as this is done consistently to avoid any confusion. For a popular webcomic on how positive and negative charges are defined please visit [http://xkcd.com/567/ XKCD].		Whenever current moves through a component or circuit, some [[energy]] is lost to [[heat]]. Some specific applications, like toasters, make use of this heat. Often this heat is an inefficiency of the system, like in [[electrical transmission#Reducing Power Line Losses\|electrical transmission]]. Excess heat can be a real nuisance in some applications like desktop computers that tend to overheat and require fans that [[convection\|circulate air]] to keep them cool.

	Whenever current moves through a component or circuit, some [[energy]] is lost to [[heat]]. Some specific applications,like toasters, make use of this heat. Often this heat is an inefficiency of the system, like in [[electrical transmission#Reducing Power Line Losses\|electrical transmission]]. Excess heat can be a real nuisance in some applications like desktop computers that tend to overheat and require fans that [[convection\|circulate air]] to keep them cool.

	[[Switch]]es are used to turn current off (or on) almost instantly. As soon as the charge lacks a place to go (remember, current only moves when there's a full [[circuit]]) the current stops. If too much current starts to flow a special type of switch acts as an emergency safety measure to automatically shut off the current. These emergency safety measures include [[fuse]]s and [[circuit breaker]]s.		[[Switch]]es are used to turn current off (or on) almost instantly. As soon as the charge lacks a place to go (remember, current only moves when there's a full [[circuit]]) the current stops. If too much current starts to flow a special type of switch acts as an emergency safety measure to automatically shut off the current. These emergency safety measures include [[fuse]]s and [[circuit breaker]]s.
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	*[[Electrical grid]]		*[[Electrical grid]]
	*[[Electric generator]]		*[[Electric generator]]
	* Or explore a [[Special:Random\| random page!]]		* Or explore a [[Special:Random\| random page]]

	To learn about the physics of electric current please see [http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/elecur.html#c1 hyperphysics].		To learn about the physics of electric current please see [http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/elecur.html#c1 hyperphysics].


	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}
	[[Category:Uploaded]]		[[Category:Uploaded]]

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported

2021-12-20T19:47:17Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 19:47, 20 December 2021
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energy>Jmdonev at 23:54, 9 November 2021

2021-11-09T23:54:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:54, 9 November 2021
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	[[Category:Done ~~2018~~-08-03]]		[[Category:Done 2021-10-29]]
	<onlyinclude>'''Electric current''' also referred to as '''amperage''' is the amount of [[electric charge]] flowing per [[second]] within a [[conductor]]. It is what carries the [[electric power]] from [[power plant]]s, through the [[electrical transmission\|transmission system]] and [[~~Distribution~~ grid]] for [[industrial electricity use\|industrial]] and [[Connecting homes to the electrical grid\|home electricity use]]. It is otherwise known as [[electricity]].</onlyinclude> The intensity of current is determined by the amount of charge flowing per second and is measured in [[ampere]]s, abbreviated as A or amp. When electric charge flows in one direction it's called [[direct current]] and when the electric charge wiggles back and forth, alternating directions, it's called [[alternating current]].		[[Category:Translated to Spanish]]
			[[es:Corriente eléctrica]]
			[[File:electrical-863402_1280.jpg\|300px\|thumb\|Figure 1. Large high voltage power lines are a crucial component to the grid. They transport electric current with little energy losses.<ref>Pixabay [Online], Available: https://pixabay.com/en/electrical-wires-grid-power-863402/</ref>]]

			<onlyinclude>'''Electric current''' also referred to as '''amperage''' is the amount of [[electric charge]] flowing per [[second]] within a [[conductor]]. It is what carries the [[electric power]] from [[power plant]]s, through the [[electrical transmission\|transmission system]] and [[distribution grid]] for [[industrial electricity use\|industrial]] and [[Connecting homes to the electrical grid\|home electricity use]]. It is otherwise known as [[electricity]].</onlyinclude> The intensity of current is determined by the amount of charge flowing per second and is measured in [[ampere]]s, abbreviated as A or amp. When electric charge flows in one direction it's called [[direct current]] and when the electric charge wiggles back and forth, alternating directions, it's called [[alternating current]].

	The amount of direct current can be calculated from the following formula:		The amount of direct current can be calculated from the following formula:

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported

2018-09-03T22:23:43Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 22:23, 3 September 2018
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energy>Jmdonev at 21:16, 26 August 2018

2018-08-26T21:16:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:16, 26 August 2018
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	[[Category:Done 2018-04-30]]		[[Category:Done 2018-08-03]]
	<onlyinclude>'''Electric current''' also referred to as '''amperage''' is the amount of [[electric charge]] flowing per [[second]] within a [[conductor]]. It is what carries the [[electric power]] from [[power plant]]s, through the [[electrical transmission\|transmission system]] and [[~~distribution system~~]] for [[industrial electricity use\|industrial]] and [[Connecting homes to the electrical grid\|home electricity use]]. It is otherwise known as [[electricity]].</onlyinclude> The intensity of current is determined by the amount of charge flowing per second and is measured in [[ampere]]s, abbreviated as A or amp. When electric charge flows in one direction it's called [[direct current]] and when the electric charge wiggles back and forth, alternating directions, it's called [[alternating current]].		<onlyinclude>'''Electric current''' also referred to as '''amperage''' is the amount of [[electric charge]] flowing per [[second]] within a [[conductor]]. It is what carries the [[electric power]] from [[power plant]]s, through the [[electrical transmission\|transmission system]] and [[Distribution grid]] for [[industrial electricity use\|industrial]] and [[Connecting homes to the electrical grid\|home electricity use]]. It is otherwise known as [[electricity]].</onlyinclude> The intensity of current is determined by the amount of charge flowing per second and is measured in [[ampere]]s, abbreviated as A or amp. When electric charge flows in one direction it's called [[direct current]] and when the electric charge wiggles back and forth, alternating directions, it's called [[alternating current]].

	The amount of direct current can be calculated from the following formula:		The amount of direct current can be calculated from the following formula:

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported

2018-05-11T18:17:06Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 18:17, 11 May 2018
(No difference)

Jmdonev at 21:11, 9 May 2018

2018-05-09T21:11:32Z

New page

[[Category:Done 2018-04-30]]
<onlyinclude>'''Electric current''' also referred to as '''amperage''' is the amount of [[electric charge]] flowing per [[second]] within a [[conductor]]. It is what carries the [[electric power]] from [[power plant]]s, through the [[electrical transmission|transmission system]] and [[distribution system]] for [[industrial electricity use|industrial]] and [[Connecting homes to the electrical grid|home electricity use]]. It is otherwise known as [[electricity]].</onlyinclude> The intensity of current is determined by the amount of charge flowing per second and is measured in [[ampere]]s, abbreviated as A or amp. When electric charge flows in one direction it's called [[direct current]] and when the electric charge wiggles back and forth, alternating directions, it's called [[alternating current]].

The amount of direct current can be calculated from the following formula:

: <math>I=\frac{\Delta Q}{\Delta t}</math>

: <math>I</math> = current in [[ampere]]s,
: <math>\Delta Q</math> = the [[charge]] in [[coulomb]]s flowing past a given place and
: <math>\Delta t</math> = the elapsed time in [[second]]s.

However, coulombs of charge cannot be directly measured so usually a device known as a [[multimeter]] is used to measure current. Alternating current uses a similar equation to determine the amount of current, but the math becomes a little trickier since the direction of moving charge changes rapidly.

By convention, the term current (also referred to as conventional current) is defined by the charges moving from the positive terminal to the negative terminal. There also exists the term [[electron]] flow that is used to define charges moving from the negative terminal to the positive terminal. Please note that these are opposites. Conventional current is more popular, though either term may be used so long as this is done consistently to avoid any confusion. For a popular webcomic on how positive and negative charges are defined please visit [http://xkcd.com/567/ XKCD].

Whenever current moves through a component or circuit, some [[energy]] is lost to [[heat]]. Some specific applications,like toasters, make use of this heat. Often this heat is an inefficiency of the system, like in [[electrical transmission#Reducing Power Line Losses|electrical transmission]]. Excess heat can be a real nuisance in some applications like desktop computers that tend to overheat and require fans that [[convection|circulate air]] to keep them cool.

[[Switch]]es are used to turn current off (or on) almost instantly. As soon as the charge lacks a place to go (remember, current only moves when there's a full [[circuit]]) the current stops. If too much current starts to flow a special type of switch acts as an emergency safety measure to automatically shut off the current. These emergency safety measures include [[fuse]]s and [[circuit breaker]]s.

===Current and magnetic fields===
Electric current gives rise to [[magnetic field]]s, as discovered by Hans Øersted in 1819. Soon after this idea evolved by the works of André-Marie Ampère,<ref name=magfields>Nuffield Foundation. (Accessed Sept. 3, 2015). ''Oersted, electric current and magnetism'' [Online], Available: http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practical-physics/oersted-electric-current-and-magnetism</ref> Jean-Baptiste Biot and Félix Savart to form the first laws of [[electromagnetic force|electromagnetism]].<ref name=biosav> R. Nave. (2015, June. 21) Online. Available: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/magnetic/biosav.html</ref> [[Electric motor]]s are a common application of this phenomena—using currents and their magnetic fields to convert [[electrical energy]] to [[mechanical energy]].

== For Further Reading ==
For further information please see the related pages below:
*[[Direct current]]
*[[Alternating current]]
*[[Electrical grid]]
*[[Electric generator]]
* Or explore a [[Special:Random| random page!]]

To learn about the physics of electric current please see [http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/elecur.html#c1 hyperphysics].

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Uploaded]]