Amperes: meaning, definitions and examples
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amperes
[ ˈæm.pɪrz ]
unit of measurement
Amperes, often abbreviated as 'amps', are the basic unit of electric current in the International System of Units (SI). One ampere is defined as the flow of one coulomb of charge per second. This measurement is crucial in electrical engineering and physics for quantifying the amount of electric charge flowing in a circuit.
Synonyms
amps, current
Examples of usage
- The circuit requires 5 amperes to function.
- He noticed an increase in the amperes flowing through the wire.
- The device operates efficiently at 10 amperes.
Etymology
The term 'ampere' is derived from the name of the French physicist André-Marie Ampère, who made significant contributions to the study of electromagnetism in the 19th century. Ampère's work laid the foundation for the science of electrodynamics, and in 1881, the metric unit of electric current was named in his honor. The ampere has since become a fundamental unit of measurement, representing a key concept in the understanding and manipulation of electric currents in both theoretical and practical applications.