If 6.25 x 10^18 electrons pass in 2 seconds, what is the current?

If 6.25 x 10^18 electrons pass in 2 seconds, what is the current?

• A. 0.400 ampere
• B. 0.700 ampere
• C. 0.500 ampere
• D. 0.600 ampere

Answer: (C)

Current is the rate at which charge flows, I = Q/t. Here, 6.25 × 10^18 electrons pass in 2 seconds. Each electron carries a charge of 1.602 × 10^-19 coulombs, so the total charge moved is Q = (6.25 × 10^18) × (1.602 × 10^-19) ≈ 1.001 C. The current is then I = Q/t = 1.001 C / 2 s ≈ 0.5005 A, which rounds to 0.500 A. So the magnitude of the current is about 0.500 amperes. (Note: electron flow is opposite the conventional current direction, but the magnitude is the same.)

Current is the rate at which charge flows, I = Q/t. Here, 6.25 × 10^18 electrons pass in 2 seconds. Each electron carries a charge of 1.602 × 10^-19 coulombs, so the total charge moved is Q = (6.25 × 10^18) × (1.602 × 10^-19) ≈ 1.001 C. The current is then I = Q/t = 1.001 C / 2 s ≈ 0.5005 A, which rounds to 0.500 A.

So the magnitude of the current is about 0.500 amperes. (Note: electron flow is opposite the conventional current direction, but the magnitude is the same.)