17.1. Electric Current http://www.ck12.org
17.1 Electric Current
Objectives
The student will:
- Understand how electric current is defined
- Solve problems involving electric current
Vocabulary
- electric current:A flow of charges under the influence of an electric field, such as between the terminals of
a battery. The rateI=∆∆Qt at which charges flow within a conducting wire past any point in the wire.
Introduction
The termelectrical currentis familiar to most people. Many electrical devices have electrical specifications printed
on them.Figure17.1 shows a typical AC adapter (“plug”) with its “specs.” Can you guess what the terms 5 VDC
and 500 mA printed on the adapter mean?
FIGURE 17.1
An electrical plug.