Difference Between Voltage and Current
Property |
Voltage |
Current |
Definition | The potential difference between two points in a circuit. | The flow of electric charge in a circuit. |
Symbol | V | I |
Unit | Volt (V) | Ampere (A) |
Measured using | Voltmeter | Ammeter |
Direction | Voltage is a scalar quantity, so it has no direction. But it can have a positive or negative value. | Current is a vector quantity, and it has both magnitude and direction. The direction of current is the direction in which positive charges flow. |
Effect on circuit elements | The Voltage causes a flow of current in a circuit. | Current is what causes electrical devices to function. The amount of current flowing through a device determines how much power it consumes. |
Formula | V = IR | I = V/R |
Ohm’s Law | States that the current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the voltage applied across it, provided the temperature and other physical conditions remain constant. | States that the voltage across a conductor is directly proportional to the current flowing through it, provided the temperature and other physical conditions remain constant. |
Unit Charge | 1 Joule / Coulomb = 1 Volt | 1 Coulomb / Second = 1 Ampere |
Types | Alternating Voltage and Direct Voltage | Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC) |
Series Connection |
Unequal in all components | Equally distributed in all components. |
Parallel connection | The Magnitude of voltage remains the same in all components. | The Magnitude of current varies in all components. |
Difference Between Voltage And Current
Voltage and current are the most commonly heard electrical terminology and are often mistaken as the same. However, both voltage and current have distinctive properties. Voltage is the force that provides electric current, while on the other hand, the current is the rate at which charge flows through a circuit. Understanding the difference between these two concepts is crucial for designing and analyzing electrical circuits and devices.