What is the flow of electricity called?

The flow of electricity is commonly called an electric current, or a flow of charge. Electric current is considered a rate quantity and is measured as the rate at which the flow of charge passes a fixed point on a circuit.

The metric standard unit of measurement for electric current is 1 ampere and is often referred to as an amp.

Two conditions must happen for an electric current to flow. The first is a closed electrical circuit with both a positive and negative terminal and a conductive path such as a copper wire. The second is a constant source of energy such as a battery.