The flow of electrons through a conductor.

The flow of electrons through a conductor.

• A. Voltage
• B. Resistance
• C. Power
• D. Current

Answer: (D)

Current describes the flow of electric charge. When electrons move through a conductor, that movement constitutes current—the rate at which charge passes a point per unit time. In metals, electrons are the charge carriers, so their motion reflects the current, even though the conventional direction of current is considered as the direction positive charge would move (electrons actually move opposite to that). The magnitude of current is the amount of charge crossing a point each second, measured in amperes (one ampere equals one coulomb per second). This flow is also related to voltage and resistance by I = V/R. Voltage is the push that drives charges, resistance is what opposes the flow, and power is the rate of energy transfer.

Current describes the flow of electric charge. When electrons move through a conductor, that movement constitutes current—the rate at which charge passes a point per unit time. In metals, electrons are the charge carriers, so their motion reflects the current, even though the conventional direction of current is considered as the direction positive charge would move (electrons actually move opposite to that). The magnitude of current is the amount of charge crossing a point each second, measured in amperes (one ampere equals one coulomb per second). This flow is also related to voltage and resistance by I = V/R. Voltage is the push that drives charges, resistance is what opposes the flow, and power is the rate of energy transfer.