Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Secondary Integrated Science Practice Test 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Electric current in a circuit is defined as the flow of electric charge, which is commonly represented by the movement of electrons. This movement is quantified as the number of electrons flowing through a conductor per unit of time, typically measured in coulombs per second or amperes.

The key aspect of this definition is the focus on the actual flow of charge carriers—primarily electrons in conductive materials—rather than other characteristics like voltage, energy consumption, or resistance. Voltage, while it plays a crucial role in encouraging electrons to move through the circuit, describes potential energy and is not a direct measure of current itself. Similarly, the total energy consumed by the circuit is related to both voltage and current but does not define current directly. Lastly, resistance is a property of the circuit that opposes the flow of current but does not describe what current is. By highlighting the number of electrons flowing per second, this definition emphasizes the fundamental nature of electric current in electrical circuits.