Difference Between Electric Current and Electric Charge

Electrical Technology

Main Difference Between Charge and Current

Electric charge and current are related quantities but they are different from each other.

The main difference between current and charge:

Current: It is the rate of flow of charge (generally electrons). Current (I) is the physical quantity measured in amperes (A).
Charge: It is the deficiency or excess of electrons on a body surface. Charge (Q) is the physical property of matter measured in Coulombs (C).

What is Electric Charge?

The deficiency or excess of electrons on a mater is known is the electric charge. The representative formula of charge is follow:

Q = It … or

Q = en

Where:

Q = Charge in Coulombs
I = Current in amperes
t = time in seconds
e = number of electrons or proton
n = charge of one election or proton

The representative symbol of charge is “Q” and measuring unit is Coulomb expressed by “C” where one Coulomb:

Charge of 6.24 x 10¹⁸ electrons = 1C = One Coulomb

One Coulomb is the one ampere current per second i.e. The amount of charge which can move by an ampere current from one point to another in one second of time is equal to one coulomb.

One Coulomb is the amount of charge when placed in an electric field of one volt per meter (1V/m), then one newton of force will be exerted on it.

A single electron has -1.602 x 10^-19 Coulombs of charge
A single proton has 1.602 x10^-19 Coulombs of charges

Same charges repel each other while unlike charges attract i.e.

Elections to elections = repulsion
Protons to protons = repulsion
Electrons to protons= attraction

The force of attraction or repulsion between two charged particles placed in a distance of “r” can be calculated by Coulomb’s law:

F = K (Q1 Q2 / r2 )

Where:

F = Force in Newtons
K = Constant = 8.99×10⁹ m F^-1.
Q1 = First charged particle
Q2 = Second charged particle
r = Distance between two charged particles in meters.

There are three types of electric charges.

Negative Charge: The excess of electrons on the body surface is known as negatively charged mater (excess of electrons which mostly in the lower and outer bands or shell of atom or molecule).
Positive Charge: The deficiency of electrons on the body surface is called the positively charged mater (excess of protons which mostly in the nucleolus of atoms).
Neutral = Equal amount of electrons and protons on a particle makes it neutral (Neutrons found in the nucleolus of atom).

What is Electric Current?

Electric current is the rate of flow of charge (generally electrons) caused by potential difference (voltage). Current is represented by the symbol of “I” and measured in amperes expressed by the symbol of “A”.

When voltage or EMF applied across a conductor, there is a potential difference which moves the vast amount of electrons through it.

Current is a physical quantity which can be measured by the following formula:

I = Q / t … (in Amperes)

Where:

I = Current in Amperes
Q = Charge in Coulombs
t = Time in Seconds

There are two basic types of electric currents i.e.

AC Current: Flow of charge or elections with changing direction and magnitude.
DC Current: Flow of charge or elections in one direction with constant magnitude.

Below is the current and charge comparison chart with different characteristics.

Related Post: Difference between Star and Delta Connections – Comparison Of Y/Δ

Comparison between Electric Charge and Current

The following table shows some differences between charge and current.

Characteristics	Electric Current	Electric Charge
Definition	Current is the rate of flow of charges generally electrons caused by EMF or voltage.	Charge is the property of mater showing the deficiency or excess of electrons on its surface.
Symbol	Current represented by the symbol of “I”.	Charge represented by the symbol of “Q”.
Unit	SI unit of current is Ampere expressed by “A”.	SI unit of Charge is Coulomb expressed by “C”.
Formula	I = Q/t I = dQ / dt	Q = It … or Q = en
Force in Fields	Current produces both electric field and magnetic field.	Only produces and rises in electric filed.
Movement	Current is the movement and flow of charge generally electrons.	Charge is the movement of electrons i.e. the deficiency or excess of electrons on a body.
Measuring instrument	Ammeter (Ampere meter)	Electrometer or Ballistic Galvanometer