Electric current | Physics | Khan Academy

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Electric current is the net rate that charge flows through a cross-sectional area. Current is measured in amperes (A), equivalent to coulombs per second (C/s). Current flows when there is an electric potential difference (voltage) between two points, and there are charge carriers that are free to move between those points. Electrical conductors (metals) contain electrons that are free to move. Electrons are the drifting particles in a current-carrying wire, but conventional current is defined as the direction that positive charge would flow.

Sections:
00:00 - Intro
00:15 - What is electric current?
02:10 - Voltage and current
02:38 - Conductors and insulators
03:39 - Simple circuit
05:10 - Electron drift
06:25 - Electrons move from low to high potential
08:54 - Electron current and conventional current
11:23 - Lightning and sparks

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