Understanding The Difference Between Voltage and Current

Current and voltage are two of the most crucial concepts in electrical engineering. However, numerous individuals still confuse them as the same. It is essential to understand that these are two different concepts with various differences. It is especially essential to understand the differences between these two if you wish to have a profound understanding of how electricity works or if you work in this field. This is why we have come up with this detailed guide that will help you understand the difference between voltage and current in detail. 

This blog is your ultimate guide to understanding what is current and voltage and what are the differences between these fundamental concepts. So, start reading below to uncover.

What is Voltage?

The concept of voltage can be compared to the pressure that pumps electricity through a conductor, such as when it pumps water through a pipe. This indispensable force is measured in multiples called volts or V. The electrical and electronic apparatus are designed to operate efficiently within the set magnitude of voltage. Mismatches in these indicated voltages can cause severe issues; high voltage can stress the structures of this equipment, including circuitry malfunctions or catastrophic failure. Now, what is high voltage? 

High voltage is a term used to describe electrical energy on a transmission system or any system with voltages above those used in homes and commercial buildings, that is, above one thousand volts for an AC system and above one thousand five hundred volts in the case of a DC system. High voltage is utilised in numerous areas and the ones that need it the most, including factories, electricity distribution systems, research, laboratories, and even medical facilities.

A lower voltage also has its issues since it leads to problems such as inadequacy of current. When the voltage supplied fails to reach the required level, the circuits may not withstand their purpose correctly, leading to inefficiency in the electronic devices developed using the circuits. This lack of adequate power can result in the failure of the devices to work at all or function in a very random and unpredictable manner.

Understanding voltage in its broad aspect, together with understanding the processes related to control and coping with problems in this field, is obligatory for every person interacting with electronics. Voltage fluctuations can result in damaging electronic equipment severely. Therefore, it is vital to identify and manage voltage fluctuations that may pose a threat to the safety and efficiency of electric gadgets, keep utilities flowing and enable electronics’ function in a stable manner. There should be control and knowledge of voltage principles to rectify and preserve the electronic devices, to assist in times when the devices will not operate optimally, and to understand what went wrong after the analysis.

What is Current?

Electric current, in its most basic definition, is the flow of the electric charge through a particular space in an electrical circuit. It measures both the speed and amount of electric current passing through a circuit which offers information on how much electrical energy is being transferred. This flow is very carefully quantified in terms of amperes or amps, in honour of the French scientist André-Marie Ampère, who invested much time in the field of electrodynamics. So, if you did not know the current is measured in what, you will definitely no longer remain uninformed. The larger the amperage, the higher the electric current flowing in the circuit, so the size of the amperage associates with the ‘volume’ of electricity passing through the circuit.

So, to effectively define current, it is easier to think of it as similar to the water flow in a river. In the same manner, as water moving anywhere the riverbed is, electrons too—the submicroscopic charged particles—move in the conductor. Let’s assume that the river consists of a wire that contains electrons that can be referred to as water. The slow and fast flow of water per second is like the electric current, and the volume of water is similar to the amount of electricity passing through a wire. Therefore, the current in a circuit refers to the rate of moving of electrons per second through a definite point within the circuit. These electrons are called negative charges and the higher the number, the stronger the flow is of the current.

Current vs Voltage

After learning in detail about current and voltage, continue reading below to understand the difference between voltage and current.

Relationship Between Voltage and Current

The relationship between voltage and current is described by Ohm’s Law, according to which the current I is equal to the voltage V divided by the resistance R of the conductor. This relationship is mathematically written as

( V = IR)

If, while using a circuit of fixed resistance, the voltage rises, the current in the circuit will rise as well. On the other hand, if the resistance increases with the voltage being the same, the current decreases. This is one of the major principles learnt when studying electrical circuits and applies to any circuit whether direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC). However, in an AC circuit, the behaviour is somewhat different due to the inclusion of reactance (inductive and capacitive effect).

In other applications, this physical relationship assists in the creation and evaluation of circuits. For example, the kind of circuit that has a single continuous path through the components is a series circuit, and the total current in this circuit is constant, and the total voltage equals the sum of the voltage drops across several components. In a parallel circuit, all the components of the voltage drop are the same, with the major current being the sum total of currents through the various elements.

Also Read: What Is The Difference Between A Circuit Breaker And Isolator?

Final Words

This article must have helped you understand the difference between voltage and current. The right knowledge will significantly help you manage your work and functions if you are related to the electrical world. So, you must no longer think of voltage and current as the same, as they are definitely related but completely different concepts.