Electric Current Quiz & Flashcards for Mastery

What are the two different types of current in widespread use today?

In a direct current, how do the electrons flow?

What is the rate at which the current changes direction in the United States?

Why was alternating current (AC) chosen as the preferred type of current for long-distance power transmission?

Why is direct current (DC) still a necessity?

What is the true unit for electric current?

What is another name for the unit of electric current?

What is the difference between direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC)?

What is the speed of electrons as they drift through a conducting wire?

What are free electrons?

What is the definition of electrical current?

What are the charged particles that typically flow in electrical current?

What causes electrical current to flow in a conductor?

How fast do electrons typically move in an electrical current?

What analogy is used to describe electrical current?

Types of Current

There are two types of current in widespread use today: Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC)

Direct Current (DC)

In Direct Current, electrons flow in one direction only
Direct Current is still a necessity despite Alternating Current being the preferred type for long-distance power transmission

Alternating Current (AC)

In Alternating Current, the direction of electron flow changes periodically
In the United States, the current changes direction at a rate of 60 times per second
Alternating Current was chosen as the preferred type for long-distance power transmission due to its ability to be efficiently transmitted over long distances

Electric Current Unit

The true unit for electric current is the Ampere (A)
The Ampere is also known as the Amp

Electrical Current

Electrical current is defined as the flow of charged particles, typically electrons, through a conductor
Free electrons are electrons that are not bound to a specific atom or molecule and are able to flow freely in a conductor
Electrical current flows in a conductor when a voltage is applied, causing the free electrons to drift through the conductor
The speed of electrons as they drift through a conductor is typically very slow, around a few millimeters per second
Electrons do not move at the speed of light, but rather at a slow pace, similar to the flow of people in a crowded hallway
This concept is often described using the analogy of water flowing through a pipe

Test your understanding of electrical current and its properties with this quiz. Explore the definition, unit, and types of current to enhance your knowledge of how electricity flows.