What is the Difference Between Ampere and Coulomb?

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The main difference between ampere and coulomb lies in what they measure. Ampere is a unit of current, which measures the flow of electric charge, while coulomb is a unit of charge, which measures the amount of electric charge.

  • Ampere: This unit measures how fast the amount of charge is moving through a conductor. One ampere is equal to the flow of one coulomb of charge per second. In other words, a current of one ampere is one coulomb of charge going past a given point per second.
  • Coulomb: This unit measures the amount of electric charge. One coulomb is equal to the charge held by 6.241509×10^18 protons or electrons. In general, charge Q is determined by a steady current I flowing for a time t as Q = It.

In summary, amperes measure the rate at which electrons flow through a conductor, while coulombs measure the total amount of electric charge.

Comparative Table: Ampere vs Coulomb

The main difference between an ampere and a coulomb lies in what they measure. An ampere is a unit of electric current, while a coulomb is a unit of electric charge. Here is a comparison table highlighting the differences between the two:

Ampere Coulomb
Measures the flow of electric charge Measures the amount of electric charge
Represents the rate at which charges (in the form of electrons) flow through a circuit per second Represents the amount of electric charge passing through a point in a circuit over a certain period of time
Typically used to measure current in electrical circuits, such as household electrical outlets Used to measure the static electric charge in a circuit
One ampere is equal to one coulomb of charge passing through a point in one second One coulomb is equal to the charge held by 6.241509×10^18 protons or electrons
Measured using an ammeter Measured using an electrometer

In summary, amperes measure the rate at which electric charges flow through a circuit, while coulombs measure the amount of electric charge present in a circuit.