1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Physics

Electrical Current

By Andrew Zimmerman Jones, About.com

Definition: Electrical current is a measure of the amount of electrical charge transferred per unit time. It represents the flow of electrons through a conductive material.

Current is a scalar quantity (though in circuit analysis, the direction of current is relevant). The SI unit of electrical current is the ampere, defined as 1 coulomb/second.

Explore Physics

About.com Special Features

A Smarter Future

Tips that will help finance your education, excel in the classroom, and advance your career. More >

How to Ace the GRE

Being well prepared is the first step; here are more essential suggestions. More >

  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Physics
  4. Physics Dictionary
  5. Physics: E to H
  6. Electrical Current - definition of electrical current

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.