# What is current?

What is current?

## Electric current:

Electrical conductors conduct electricity. Presence of free charge carriers in the lattice of conductors makes this possible.

Electric current is the rate of flow of charge through a conductor.

Mathematically,

{eq}\begin{align*} I ****= \frac { Q } { t } \end{align*} {/eq}

where

• I represents the current,
• Q is the total charge flow through the conductor in time t.

.

## Answer and Explanation:

Electric current in electric circuits is because of the flow of electrons. Electrolytic solutions like aqueous NaCl solution conduct because of the flow of ions.

Plasma(ionized gas) also conducts electricity , and it is both due to the flow of electrons and ions.

The basic definition of electric current is that it is the net flow of charge through a conductor in unit time. Its SI unit is Ampere, A. 1 Ampere is the electric current in a conductor when 1 coulomb of charge passes through it in 1 second.

Electric current flowing through an electric circuit can also be calculated using Ohm's law. Consider an electric circuit with an emf source of voltage V and resistance R.

From Ohm's law, the electric current flowing through the circuit is given as follows;

{eq}\begin{align*} I &= \frac { V } { R } \end{align*} {/eq}

#### Learn more about this topic:

What is Electric Current? - Definition, Unit & Types

from CLEP Natural Sciences: Study Guide & Test Prep

Chapter 6 / Lesson 7
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