Voltage and Current

Current and voltage are two dissimilar electrical quantities but they are also connected. Therefore, it is imperative to know the basics of voltage and current for electrical and electronic engineering and other related areas.

What is Current?

Current is the rate of charge flow (electrons) moving through a circuit that is induced by the voltage. It is symbolised by the sign “I”. The SI unit of current is an ampere symbolised by “A”. If a one-coulomb charge moves through a conducting spot in one second, the amount of current is acknowledged as one ampere. Ampere (1A) of current is the 6.24×1018 electrons charge carrier flowing through a point in one second.

There are primarily two kinds of currents, i.e. AC and DC (Alternating Current & Direct Current).

AC Current: An AC (Alternating Current) constantly alters its direction and magnitude the whole time.

DC Current: A DC (Direct Current) has an invariable magnitude that doesn’t alter its polarity or direction the whole time.

The electronic current flow is negative to positive because of an enormous amount of negative charge carriers (electronic engineering), whereas in the conventional current streams from positive to negative (electrical engineering). Therefore, it is presumed for current direction flow whereas solving and scrutinising electric circuits. However, the amount of current is similar in both cases.

What is Voltage?

The necessitated amount of energy to shift the unit charge from one point to another is identified as voltage. In other words, voltage is the latent difference force between two points in an electric field that induces current to run in the circuit. 

Voltage is the outcome of electromotive force (EMF). It is symbolised by the sign of V. The SI unit of voltage is “volt”, which is also indicated by “V”. A volt is a potential difference that passes one joule of energy per coulomb charge between two points. One volt is the difference of electric positional equivalent to one ampere of current disperses one watt of power between two conducting points.

There are two essential kinds of voltages, i.e. Alternating Voltage and Direct Voltage.

Alternating Voltage: An AC voltage constantly alters its direction and magnitude the whole time. Alternators can produce alternating voltages.

Direct Voltage: DC Voltage has a stable magnitude that doesn’t alter its polarity the whole time. Direct voltage can be produced by electrochemical cells and batteries.

Current and Voltage: Difference

Also See:

• Difference Between Fractions and Rational Numbers
• Difference between Cell and Battery
• Difference Between Circuit Switching and Packet Switching
• Difference between Baking Soda And Baking Powder
• Difference between Average And Mean
• Difference between Atomic mass and Atomic weight

Conclusion

In electricity, current, and voltage are two basic and important quantities. As voltage is the reason for an occurrence and current is the consequence of that event. The dissimilarity between voltage and current can help us comprehend the basics better and comprehensively know their comparisons.