Final answer:
Electrical current refers to the rate at which electric charge flows through a circuit and is measured in amperes. Current can be direct (DC) or alternating (AC) and is driven by a voltage source which overcomes the material's resistivity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term current in the context of electricity refers to the rate at which electric charge flows. When we have a large current, such as the one needed to operate a refrigerator, it means that a significant amount of charge is moving through the circuit in a brief period of time. Conversely, a small current, like that which powers a handheld calculator, involves a relatively minor amount of charge transferring over a more extended period.
Current can be either direct current (DC), where the electric charge flows only in one direction, or alternating current (AC), where the charge periodically reverses direction. The units of current are measured in amperes (A), which is one coulomb of electrical charge passing a fixed point in the circuit per second.
The driving force behind current is a voltage source like a battery or generator, which creates a potential difference and propels the charges through conductive materials. However, materials have varying resistivities that can oppose charge flow, similar to how friction resists motion.