Electric Current

electricity · physics · energy

Flow of charge. Electric current happens when tiny charged particles move through a conductor, like electrons zooming through a wire. The more particles that flow, the stronger the current.

Different carriers. In a metal wire, electrons do the moving. But in different materials, other charged particles can carry electricity too, like ions in seawater or holes in special semiconductors.

Powers your life. Every time you flip a light switch or charge your tablet, electric current is flowing through the wires to make it work. Without current, none of our electrical devices would function.

Measured in flow. Scientists measure electric current by counting how much charge passes through a spot each second, kind of like measuring how much water flows through a pipe.