A current of 0.6 A is drawn by an electric bulb for 10 minutes. Which one of the following is the amount of electric charge that flows through the circuit?

Concept:

• Current through a given area of a conductor is the net charge passing per unit time through the area.

• Let ΔQ be the net charge flowing across a cross-section of a conductor during the time interval Δt, then
• \(i = \frac{Δ Q}{Δ t}\) ----- (1)
• The SI unit of current is ampere.
• If one coulomb of charge crosses an area in one second, the current is one ampere.

Calculation:

Given data: Current, i = 0.6 A,

Time Δt = 10 minutes = 10 × 60 = 600 seconds

From equation (1)

⇒ i × Δt = ΔQ

⇒ ΔQ = 0.6 × 600 = 360 C

Additional Information

• If the moving charges are positive, the current is in the direction of motion.
• If the moving charges are negative, the current is opposite to the direction of motion.