Basic Electricity Tutorial - Electrical Current

When a difference of potential is applied across a conductor the surplus electrons from the negative source dump electrons into the atoms of the conductor displacing their original atoms which migrate to the next atom and the process is repeated over and over creating a domino effect though the conductor. The opposite is true at the other end of the wire on the positive side. The atoms of the conductor connected to the positive source are being robbed of their electrons so they rob the electron from their neighbor and so on.

This organized flow of electrons is called electric current. Current is measured in how many electrons flow past a given point in one second. The unit of measure is a coulomb per second and is expressed in amps or I. One coulomb is equal to 6.28e18 or 6,280,000,000,000,000,000 electrons. So, one amp is equal to 6,280,000,000,000,000,000 electrons per second.