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The ampere is an SI base unit and electric current is a base quantity in the International System of Quantities (ISQ). [4]: 15 Electric current is also known as amperage and is measured using a device called an ammeter. [2]: 788 Electric currents create magnetic fields, which are used in motors, generators, inductors, and transformers.
The net electric current I is the surface integral of the electric current density J passing through Σ: =, where dS denotes the differential vector element of surface area S, normal to surface Σ. (Vector area is sometimes denoted by A rather than S , but this conflicts with the notation for magnetic vector potential ).
The current entering any junction is equal to the current leaving that junction. i 2 + i 3 = i 1 + i 4. This law, also called Kirchhoff's first law, or Kirchhoff's junction rule, states that, for any node (junction) in an electrical circuit, the sum of currents flowing into that node is equal to the sum of currents flowing out of that node; or equivalently:
Electricity plays a central role in many modern technologies, serving in electric power where electric current is used to energise equipment, and in electronics dealing with electrical circuits involving active components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies.
Electric current is the flow of electric charge through an object. The most common charge carriers are the positively charged proton and the negatively charged electron . The movement of any of these charged particles constitutes an electric current.
The conventional "hole" current is in the negative direction of the electron current and the negative of the electrical charge which gives I x = ntw(−v x)(−e) where n is charge carrier density, tw is the cross-sectional area, and −e is the charge of each electron.
Illustration of the "reference directions" of the current (), voltage (), and power () variables used in the passive sign convention.If positive current is defined as flowing into the device terminal which is defined to be positive voltage, then positive power (big arrow) given by the equation = represents electric power flowing into the device, and negative power represents power flowing out.
Direct current may flow through a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through semiconductors, insulators, or even through a vacuum as in electron or ion beams. The electric current flows in a constant direction, distinguishing it from alternating current (AC). A term formerly used for this type of current was galvanic current. [1]