Current

Electric current refers to the flow of electric charge in a conductor, such as a wire or a circuit. It is typically measured in units of amperes (A). According to Ohm's Law, the current in a circuit is directly proportional to the voltage applied and inversely proportional to the resistance of the circuit [Ohm, G., Kirchhoff, G. & Faraday, M.].

The flow of electricity through an object, such as a wire, is known as the current (I). It is measured in amps (A); if the current is tiny, it is described in milli-amps (mA), 1000 mA = 1A. The driving force (electrical pressure) behind the flow of a current is known as the voltage and is measured in volts (V) (Voltage may also be referred to as the potential difference or electromotive force). The property of a material that limits current flow is known as its resistance (R); the resistance unit is the ohm (Ω). Resistance to alternating current is more properly called impedance, but in this application, resistance and impedance can be considered equivalent. The relationship between current, voltage, and resistance is expressed by Ohm’s Law. This states that the current flowing in a circuit is directly proportional to the applied voltage and inversely proportional to the resistance of the circuit, provided the temperature remains constant [Humane Slaughter Association].

Sources:

Ohm, G. (1827). The galvanic circuit investigated mathematically. Royal Society of London, Philosophical Transactions, 17, 581-594.

Kirchhoff, G. (1845). Über die berechtigung der von Mr. J. R. Ohm in Frankfurt a. M. aufgestellten theorie der electrizität. Annalen der Physik, 142(9), 497-508.

Faraday, M. (1831). Experimental researches in electricity. London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, 1, 1-34.

Current, voltage and resistance. Humane Slaughter Association. Retrieved from: https://www.hsa.org.uk/electricity/current-voltage-and-resistance.