What is the basic unit of electric current?

What is the basic unit of electric current?

• A. Volt
• B. Ampere
• C. Ohm
• D. Watt

Answer: (B)

Current is the rate at which electric charge flows through a point in a circuit, and the unit that measures that flow is the ampere. An ampere means one coulomb of charge passes a given point every second. In other words, the current I equals the amount of charge Q moving per unit time t (I = Q/t). This makes sense in circuits: the higher the current, the more charge is moving each second. For contrast, the volt measures electric potential difference—the push that drives charges to move. The ohm measures resistance—the opposition to that flow. The watt measures power—the rate at which energy is transferred, and it relates to current through P = V × I.

Current is the rate at which electric charge flows through a point in a circuit, and the unit that measures that flow is the ampere. An ampere means one coulomb of charge passes a given point every second. In other words, the current I equals the amount of charge Q moving per unit time t (I = Q/t). This makes sense in circuits: the higher the current, the more charge is moving each second.

For contrast, the volt measures electric potential difference—the push that drives charges to move. The ohm measures resistance—the opposition to that flow. The watt measures power—the rate at which energy is transferred, and it relates to current through P = V × I.