Difference between Current and Voltage

Some of us really, don't know the difference between current and voltage. What is the difference between current and voltage ? is the most commonly asked question in the electrical subject. In this article, let us see the difference between the current and voltage.

Voltage

What is a Voltage ? Voltage is a unit of potential difference or potential. A potential difference between two points is measured in voltage.

Consider points A and point B. Now let us place some electrons in point A and in point B. The electrons have negative charges. So, the repulsion force occurs between the electrons in point A and in point B. Due to the repulsion force occurring between these electrons, a potential is generated in point A and in point B. We place more electrons in point A so, the potential in point A will be higher. We place fewer electrons in point B so, the potential in point B will be lower.

We know that the potential in point A is high and the potential in point B is low. Let's consider it has 50 V in Point A and 25 V in point B. Now, point A has a higher concentration and point B has a lower concentration. So, the electrons move from a higher concentration to a lower concentration. Now, the difference between the two points 50 - 25 is 25 V. The potential difference is 25 V.

Current

What is Electric Current ? Current is defined as a flow of electrons. When the electrons move from one point to another, it creates a current flow between these two points.

In the previous topic, we discussed that in point A is 50 V and point B is 25 V. Due to the high concentration in point A and low concentration in point B, the electrons move from high concentration to low concentration which means the electrons move from point A to point B. Due to the flow of electrons from point A to point B, the current path is generated between these two points and it is measured in ampere.

Let us consider point C in the middle of points A and point B. The flow of electrons is defined as a current. Now the number of electrons crossing the point C per second is measured as ampere per second. If 10 electrons cross the point C per second then the current is 10 amperes per second.

Difference between Current and Voltage

Current is defined as a flow of electrons. Voltage is a unit of potential difference or potential. If potential differences exist between two points there will be a current flow between these two points. If the voltage is zero, the current is also zero. If the potential is high in point A the number of electrons crossing point C increases which means if the voltage is high, the current will also high.

Read this also: Difference between EMF and Voltage

If the light in our house glows dimly, it means the voltage is low but there is a flow of current. Finally, we can say that current is generated by the flow of electrons and voltage is a unit of potential or potential difference. Voltage is boosted up to current if the voltage is high, the current will be also high.