Current and Voltage Comparison char
Current is the rate at which electric charge flows past a point in a circuit.
Voltage is the electrical force that would drive an electric current between two points.
Current |
Voltage |
|
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Current is the rate at which electric charge flows past a point in a circuit. In other words, current is the rate of flow of electric charge. | Voltage, also called electromotive force, is the potential difference in charge between two points in an electrical field. In other words, voltage is the "energy per unit charge”. |
| Symbol | I | V |
| Unit | A or amps or amperage | V or volts or voltage |
| SI Unit | 1 ampere =1 coulomb/second. | 1 volt = 1 joule/coulomb. (V=W/C) |
| Measuring Instrument | Ammeter | Voltmeter |
| Relationship | Current is the effect (voltage being the cause). Current cannot flow without Voltage. | Voltage is the cause and current is its effect. Voltage can exist without current. |
| Field created | A magnetic field | An electrostatic field |
| In series connection | Current is the same through all components connected in series. | Voltage gets distributed over components connected in series. |
| In a parallel connection | Current gets distributed over components connected in parallel. | Voltages are the same across all components connected in parallel. |
