DOMAIN: PHYSICS / SYSTEM: SI
I = dQ/dt / UNIT: AMPERE (A)
REFERENCE: STEADY
STATE: DYNAMIC
ASKiIMAN™ DOOR 02 / THE CIRCUIT / REALM 01 / TERRITORY 02
--:-- · -- --- ----

Ontological Layer: Primitive Concepts

Electric Current

The Flow of Charge in Motion

The Dynamic State of Charge

Static charge holds potential; moving charge does work. Territory 02 takes the localized charge of Territory 01 and puts it into motion. We define the rate of this flow, differentiate between conventional models and actual electron drift, and analyze how this current behaves through cross-sections, series paths, and parallel branches.

ELECTRIC CHARGE → CHARGE MOTION → CHARGE FLOW → CURRENT (I) → CURRENT DENSITY (J) → CARRIER MOTION → DRIFT → DRIFT CURRENT → CONDUCTION

The 14 Current Concepts

Vertical Ontology: Territory Expansion

LEVEL 01

Rate of Charge Flow

  • Definition of Current
  • Mathematical Formula (I = dQ/dt)
  • The Ampere (1 C/s)
  • Macroscopic vs Microscopic view
 LEVEL 02

Flow Direction

  • Conventional Current (+ to -)
  • Electron Flow (- to +)
  • Sign Conventions in Circuits
  • Why conventional flow persists
 LEVEL 03

Current Density (J)

J = I/A
  • Definition (J = I/A)
  • Vector Nature of Density
  • Cross-sectional Area dependence
  • Bridge to Semiconductor Physics
 LEVEL 04

Waveform Types

  • Direct Current (DC)
  • Alternating Current (AC)
  • Steady vs Time-Varying Current
  • Continuous Flow constraints
 LEVEL 05

Current Sources

  • Concept of a Current Source
  • Ideal Current Source (Infinite Rs)
  • Practical Current Source (Parallel Rs)
  • Source Transformations
 LEVEL 06

Current in Series

  • Single Path Principle
  • Current Equality in Series
  • KCL verification for a single loop
  • Impact of adding loads
 LEVEL 07

Current in Parallel

  • Branching Paths & Nodes
  • Current Distribution (Current Divider)
  • Kirchhoff's Current Law (Preview)
  • Inverse relationship to Resistance
 LEVEL 08

V-I Relationship

  • Current as response to Voltage
  • Linear causality (Ohmic)
  • Graphical Representation (Slope = 1/R)
  • Non-linear previews
 LEVEL 09

Microscopic View

  • Lattice Scattering & Collisions
  • Random Thermal Motion vs Net Flow
  • Drift Velocity (vd)
  • Mobility (μ)
 LEVEL 10

Drift Current

  • Current induced by Electric Field
  • J = n e vd
  • Conductivity (σ = n e μ)
  • Fundamental to all conduction
 LEVEL 11

Conductor Dynamics

  • Heating Effect (Joule Heating)
  • Magnetic Field Generation
  • Skin Effect (AC limits)
  • Wire gauge and ampacity
 LEVEL 12

Device Conduction

  • Bridge to Semiconductor Physics
  • Two types of carriers (Electrons/Holes)
  • Drift vs Diffusion Current
  • Non-ohmic current flow
SIMULATION RUNNING