Which statement best defines current?

• A. The rate at which charge accumulates in a circuit
• B. The flow of electric charges through a conductor, measured in amperes
• C. The total opposition to alternating current
• D. The voltage across a component

Answer: (B)

Current is the flow of electric charges through a conductor, measured in amperes. It represents how much charge passes a point each second, not how much charge is stored in a part of the circuit. In formulas, I = dQ/dt, and one ampere equals one coulomb per second. The direction is the conventional current direction—the path positive charges would take (electrons move opposite in most metals). This definition applies to both DC and AC, though AC current reverses direction over time. The other statements describe charge buildup, impedance, or voltage, which are different electrical quantities.