Which expression is given for the total charge transferred?

Which expression is given for the total charge transferred?

• A. Charge × Current
• B. Current × Time
• C. Charge × Current × Time
• D. Voltage × Time

Answer: (C)

Charge transferred is the amount of charge that flows, which is determined by how much charge passes per unit time (the current) over the interval of time. Since current is charge per second, multiplying current by time gives the total charge: Q = I × t. More generally, Q = ∫ I dt for any varying current, and if the current is constant, it simplifies to Q = I t. So the correct expression is current times time. The other option that multiplies by an extra factor would not have the right units (it would give charge squared), and voltage times time does not represent charge either.

Charge transferred is the amount of charge that flows, which is determined by how much charge passes per unit time (the current) over the interval of time. Since current is charge per second, multiplying current by time gives the total charge: Q = I × t. More generally, Q = ∫ I dt for any varying current, and if the current is constant, it simplifies to Q = I t.

So the correct expression is current times time. The other option that multiplies by an extra factor would not have the right units (it would give charge squared), and voltage times time does not represent charge either.