Current vs Voltage: Difference and Comparison

In electricity, current, and voltage, there are many crucial elements to understand. Though they are linked and aid in the operation of electricity.

A voltage may exist without a current, but a current can never exist without a voltage difference. Ohm’s law, which binds voltage and current together, is the foundation of electricity.

Key Takeaways

1. Current measures the flow of electric charge, whereas voltage measures the electric potential difference.
2. Current is measured in amperes (A), while voltage is measured in volts (V).
3. Voltage drives current through a conductor, following Ohm’s Law: V = IR.

Current vs Voltage

The difference between Current and Voltage is that Current is the rate of flow from which the electrical charges travel across a point in a circuit due to potential difference and is symbolized by the letter “I.” Voltage, denoted by the letter “V,” is the electrical force that flows an electrical current between two locations.

The electrons or negative charge-carrying atoms that travel around in circuits are called electric currents. The real significance of electric current flowing in a single direction in any circuit is electrons moving in the reverse direction.

The letter “I” is used to symbolize it. The ampere, abbreviated as “A,” is the standard unit of electric current.

The voltage is the potential variation in electrical potential between 2 points. The EMF is responsible for the flow of electrons or electric current across a circuit and is recognized as the voltage.

It signifies the potential for individually each Coulomb of electrical charge to accomplish the effort.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Current	Voltage
Definition	The rate of flow of charges among two points in the circuit is known as electric current.	The difference between 2 points in an electrical field is known as voltage.
Unit	Ampere is the fundamental unit of electric current.	Volt is the unit of measurement for voltage.
Symbol	“I” is the symbol of the electric current.	The Voltage is denoted by the letter V.
Field Created	Electrostatic Fields are created by the electric current.	A Magnetic Field is created by voltage.
Types	direct current and Alternating current are the two kinds of current.	Direct voltage and Alternating voltage are the two forms of voltage.

What is Current?

The rate of flow of charge (electrons) across points in the circuit produced by the voltage is known as electric current. The letter “I” is used to symbolize it. The ampere, abbreviated as “A,” is the standard unit of electric current.

The quantity of electric current is measured in amperes when a one-coulomb charge travels through a conducting point in 1 second. The charge carrier for 1 Ampere or 1A of electricity is 6.24*10¹⁸ electrons.

There are two primary types of electric currents: Direct Current and Alternating Current.

Alternating Current: The direction and magnitude of an Alternating Current vary constantly.

Direct Current:  Direct Current has a constant amplitude, and its polarity and direction do not change over time.

Due to a large number of electrons (Known as negative charge carriers) (this is used in electronic engineering), electronic current flows from negative potential to positive potential, whereas the general current flows from positive terminal to negative terminal (This is used in electrical engineering).

Although the quantity of electric current is similar in both situations, this is only used for direction flow when resolving and evaluating electronic circuits.

Electric Current Formula:

The following is the fundamental electric formula for electric current.

• I (in Amperes) = Q (Q = Charge in Coulombs) /t (t = time in seconds) 

What is Voltage?

Voltage is the quantity of energy necessary to transfer charge from one specific point to a different point.

Voltage, in other terms, is the potential differential force between the 2 points in a uniform electric field that causes the electric current to flow in the circuit; voltage or potential difference is the fundamental cause, while current is the result.

The impact of EMF (electromotive force) is voltage, which is denoted by the letter “V”. The standard unit of voltage is “volt,”. Volt is the potential difference between two locations that move one joule of energy per coulomb charge.

Between two conducting points, one volt is the variance in electric potential equivalent to one “A” (Ampere) of current consuming 1 watt of power.

Alternating and direct voltages are the two most common forms of voltage.

Alternating Voltage: The direction and magnitude of an AC voltage vary constantly throughout time. Alternators may create alternating voltages.

Direct Voltage:  It has a fixed magnitude, and its polarity does not vary over time. Electrochemical cells and batteries may create direct voltage.

Voltage Formula:

V (in Volts) = J (Energy in Joules) /C (Charge in Coulombs) = W (Work done in joules) /A (Current in Ampere)

Main Differences Between Current and Voltage

1. The rate of flow of electrical charges between the points of an electrical field is known as current. The voltage is the difference in electrical charges in between 2 points present in a uniform electric field.
2. Amperes are the SI unit of current. Volt is the unit of voltage.
3. The current is symbolized by “I”, whereas the voltage is signified by “V”.
4. The charge-to-time ratio is recognized as the current. Whereas The voltage is the work done per unit charge.
5. The electrostatic field that surrounds the electric current is created by it. The magnetic field surrounding it is created by the electric voltage.

References

1. https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/abs/10.1139/t03-023
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378779617303516

Last Updated : 12 August, 2023