Question
Question: How does current relate to the electric field?...
How does current relate to the electric field?
Solution
Electric current is defined as the rate of flow of the electrons in a conductor. Its unit is Ampere. The current can be measured by using a digital meter.
Complete step by step answer:
Electric fields are important in estimating how electricity begins and continues to flow. They describe the pushing or pulling force in the space between the charges. These are of the single charges. A negative charge will have an inward field as it attracts positive charges.
The electric field is represented by lines of the force or field lines and is considered as the starting on positive charges and ending on the negative charges and the line which is tangent to a field line indicates the direction of the electric field at that point.
The current is directly proportional to the voltage difference between the two terminals which implies that the current is also proportional to the magnitude of the electric field between the two terminals.
The electric current produces the electric field due to relativity mainly the Lorentz contraction. The direction of the electric current and the electric field are the same. Thus the current flow is in the direction of the electric field.
Note:
1. Examples of current electricity are running a fan, a Light, T.V, etc and it exists for a longer time.
2. The electric field is a vector and it is not negative. It will have negative and positive directions. An electron which is a negatively charged particle experiences the force against the direction of the field and similarly, for a positively charged particle, the force will be along the field.