Unit-2: Electrostatics and

Electric Current
MYP-3 Physics
Part-V
What is Current?
Current is the measure of the rate of flow of electric charge in the circuit.

When there is no net flow of charge even though there is movement.Current is not flowing
How will charge move to constitute Current?
Current will flow if there is a potential difference between two points.
Current:
• The greater the flow of charge, the greater the electric current.
• When electrons flow there is electric current and when there is no flow there is no
electric current.

The conventional current flows from positive terminal to negative terminal and electrons flow from
negative terminal to positive.
Points to remember
● Electric current(I) is the charge “Q” flowing per unit time (t).
● It is the rate of flow of charge through a conductor and given by the following
expression,
Electric current(I) = Q/t

● If charge “Q” is measured in coulombs and time “ t” in seconds then the current is
measured in coulombs/seconds i.e ampere.
● It is represented by symbol - A
Definition: 1 ampere
1 ampere is the current that flows when charge of 1 coulomb passes through a particular point in 1
second.
▪ Current is measured using an ammeter
▪ Ammeters should always be connected in series with the part of the circuit you wish to measure the
current through
▪ “A” in the circuit represents Ammeter.
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It is not possible to assume this modern world without

electricity. But it is important to know where it all
started with the study of electric current. Today current
is used to transfer data and it’s just a minute amount of
current as compared to light bulb. We use internet
connection, Ethernet and other things that are based on
the information carrying current. Current is becoming
more and more important to our lives day by day.