Electric Current Overview

In electric circuits, what are the charge carriers often?

Electrons

What do electric currents create in ordinary conductors?

Magnetic fields

What is the SI unit for electric current?

Ampere

What device is used to measure electric current?

Ammeter Signup and view all the answers

In which type of conductor can charge carriers be electrons or holes?

Semiconductors Signup and view all the answers

What are the moving particles called in an electric current?

Charge carriers Signup and view all the answers

In a conductive material, what are the moving charged particles that constitute the electric current called?

Charge carriers Signup and view all the answers

In metals, which type of particles are the charge carriers responsible for electric current?

Electrons Signup and view all the answers

Who used the symbol I to represent current in formulating Ampère's force law?

André-Marie Ampère Signup and view all the answers

What are the charge carriers in semiconductors?

Positive or negative Signup and view all the answers

Why is a convention needed for the direction of current that is independent of the type of charge carriers?

Because current can be the flow of either positive or negative charges, or both Signup and view all the answers

What does a flow of positive charges give in an electrical circuit?

The same electric current as an equal flow of negative charges in the opposite direction Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the reference direction of the current I?

The direction representing positive current specified by an arrow on the circuit schematic diagram Signup and view all the answers

When analyzing electrical circuits, why are the reference directions of currents often assigned arbitrarily?

The actual direction of current through a specific circuit element is usually unknown until the analysis is completed Signup and view all the answers

'Ohm's law' states what relationship?

$I = V/R$ Signup and view all the answers

What does Ohm's law state about the relationship between current, voltage, and resistance?