Final answer:
Electric current is measured in amperes (amps), which is fundamental to the functionality and safety of electrical devices and circuits. An ampere is defined as the electric current that produces a specific force between parallel wires and equals one coulomb of charge per second.
Step-by-step explanation:
Electric current is measured in amperes, often simply referred to as amps. The unit of ampere is named after the physicist Andre Ampere, and by definition, one ampere is the amount of electric current that produces an attractive force of 2.7 X 107 newton per meter between two parallel wires a meter apart. In practical terms, one ampere is equivalent to one coulomb of charge moving through a circuit in one second (1 A = 1 C/s).
It is crucial for the proper operation of electrical appliances, as well as for safety devices such as fuses and circuit breakers, to be rated in amperes. Electric power, which is measured in watts (watts), is calculated as the product of current (in amperes) and voltage (in volts). Therefore, understanding the measurement and influence of electric current is fundamental to electrical engineering and physics.