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Electric Current

Electric Current. The flow of electric charge from one place to another e moving through a metal wire much like water flowing through a hose I = q/t Electric Current Unit: C/s = ampere, A “amps” The ampere = fundamental unit of electricity

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Electric Current

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  1. Electric Current • The flow of electric charge from one place to another • e moving through a metal wire much like water flowing through a hose • I = q/t Electric Current • Unit: C/s = ampere, A “amps” • The ampere = fundamental unit of electricity • Charge moving in one direction – direct current, DC through a closed path = electric circuit

  2. Although e move freely in metal wires, to coordinate them & cause them to move “in one direction”, an electric potential is needed • A battery provides the “energy per charge” – the voltage • Analogous to holding a hose at different heights • Charges move due to difference in potentials – from high V (+)  low V (-)

  3. The overall charge on any circuit is always zero, whether current or not • By convention, current is the flow of positive charge • The direction of E-field • The direction a positive test charge would move • Reality is  e move, not “protons”

  4. e move slowly through wire • Repeated collisions with atoms slows e ~ 10-4 m/s • Each e exerts a force on others causing “a domino effect” • This influence travels through the wire at almost c

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