The study of electronics must begin with an understanding of physical quantities beginning with the most fundamental, the base quantities, which are physical quantities that are not derived from other quantities. Seven of the most common base quantities are:
1. Time
2. Length
3. Mass
4. Electric current
5. Thermodynamic temperature
6. Luminous intensity
7. Amount of substance
Of particular interest for the sake of this thread is Electric Current. The definition is no less than the following: An ampere is the constant current that, if maintained in two straight parallel conductors of infinite length, of negligible circular cross section, and placed 1 meter apart in vacuum, would produce between these conductors a force equal to 2 E-07 newton per meter of length.
Wouldn't it be easier to define a base quantity as Electric Charge, measured in coulombs, a coulomb being equal to the charge of 6.25 E18 electrons? From there, the ampere is then easily defined as 1 coulomb per second. I just find it strange that the ampere is considered basic when it is easily derived from what I believe are truly basic quantities: time (seconds) and charge (coulombs or electrons).
Your toughts?
1. Time
2. Length
3. Mass
4. Electric current
5. Thermodynamic temperature
6. Luminous intensity
7. Amount of substance
Of particular interest for the sake of this thread is Electric Current. The definition is no less than the following: An ampere is the constant current that, if maintained in two straight parallel conductors of infinite length, of negligible circular cross section, and placed 1 meter apart in vacuum, would produce between these conductors a force equal to 2 E-07 newton per meter of length.
Wouldn't it be easier to define a base quantity as Electric Charge, measured in coulombs, a coulomb being equal to the charge of 6.25 E18 electrons? From there, the ampere is then easily defined as 1 coulomb per second. I just find it strange that the ampere is considered basic when it is easily derived from what I believe are truly basic quantities: time (seconds) and charge (coulombs or electrons).
Your toughts?