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Ampere (Amps)

Definition

An ampere, often shortened to "amp," is a unit of electric current representing one coulomb of charge moving past a point per second.

Analogy

Think about water flowing through a pipe. The amount of water passing through per second can be compared to amps - it represents how much electricity flows past a point every second.

Related terms

Electric Current: This refers to the flow of electric charge, similar to water flowing down a river.

Resistance: Resistance measures how difficult it is for electricity to flow through something. It’s like rocks in our river slowing down the flow of water.

Conductor: A material that allows electricity to pass through easily, just like pipes allow water to flow freely.

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.